A Black Earth woman, 67-year-old Kelli Nechkash made her initial appearance Thursday in Iowa County Court for allegedly stabbing her estranged husband to death in Ridgeway on February 11. Nechkash appeared in court, in custody, with her Attornies Allison Markoski and Jeffrey Erickson who appeared by Zoom. District Attorney Zachary Leigh was in court for the State of Wisconsin. Judge Matthew Allen presided.
According to the criminal complaint, on February 12 at approximately 11:50 a.m., the lowa County Sheriff’s Office responded to Collin Street in the Village of Ridgeway for a welfare check. After multiple unsuccessful attempts to contact anyone inside the residence, law enforcement made entry. Shortly after entry, officers located a deceased individual, later identified as 62-yearold Todd Nechkash Sr.
Nechkash was on his left side and covered with a blanket. When the blanket was removed, law enforcement observed obvious wounds to the right side of his body, including the stomach and chest which authorities determined the victim had multiple stab wounds.
An autopsy was performed on February 13 at the University Hospital Pathology Clinic which indicated Nechkash suffered thirteen sharpforce injuries, including six stab wounds to the chest, abdomen, and upper back. The report further indicates injuries to both lungs, the liver, and the gallbladder.
On the evening of February 11, Kelli Nechkash was arrested for Operating While Intoxicated (OWI 6th if charged) following a motor vehicle crash. During her arrest, deputies located a cell phone and medication that belonged to Todd inside her vehicle. The vehicle was impounded in the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office evidence bay.
During a subsequent search of Todd’s residence, Kelli’s cell phone was located at his residence. A search of her vehicle revealed a large kitchen knife, two gloves with red staining consistent with blood, one of which was in a position nearly gripping the knife; a white jacket with red staining consistent with blood; and a gray long-sleeved shirt with red staining consistent with blood on both cuffs, the arms, and the front of the shirt.
On February 12, while law enforcement was executing a search warrant at the Iowa County Jail, Kelli became emotional and made the following statements in the presence of law enforcement saying: “I didn’t try to murder him, I did not want to kill him, I did not mean to do that.”
In 2012, Kelli Nechkash was sentenced to prison for 1st-degree recklessly endangering safety on Todd Nechkash Sr., and attempted arson of his home. The couple remained married but maintained separate residences.
If convicted of 1st-degree intentional homicide, Kelli Nechkash faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of extended supervision. She is expected to have a motion hearing on March 6 and a Status Conference on March 17.
She was remanded back to the Iowa County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.