At her preliminary hearing on March 17 in Iowa County Court, Judge Matthew Allen heard sufficient testimony from the prosecution to show probable cause that 67-year-old Kelli Nechkash stabbed her estranged husband to death in his home in the Village of Ridgeway on February 11, 2026.
Nechkash was in court, in custody, with her attorney Jeffrey Erickson. District Attorney Zachary Leigh was in court for the State of Wisconsin. Several victims’ friends and family were present, but no victim spoke.
Leigh called two witnesses to testify. The first was Iowa County Detective Sargeant Brian Fitzsimons who took the stand, the second being Dr. Charles Rohrer of the University of Wisconsin Department of Pathology, who conducted the autopsy of 62-year-old Todd Nechkash on February 13. He appeared via Zoom.
Fitzsimons testified that he and Detective Richard Severson were called to investigate the crime scene by local law enforcement. He testified they found a deceased male on the floor in a bedroom, an abundance of blood evidence around his body and a very apparent wound to the abdomen where tissue was sticking out of the wound. He said a good portion of the blood was dried and good portion of his body was in rigor mortis. And upon further inspection of the body, he found other suspected sharp forced trauma wounds consistent with stab wounds.
When Leigh inquired about sharp force trauma wounds, Fitzsimons explained that these injuries occur when a bladed weapon causes harm, with stab wounds serving as a typical example. He also testified that the deceased had a wound on his right forearm consistent with laceration and consistent with defensive wounds indicating the deceased tried to defend himself.
Upon cross-examination, Attorney Erickson questioned Fitzsimons on why Kelli Nechkash became the prime suspect. Fitzsimons replied that Kelli’s son, who shares the same name, Todd Nechkash Jr., was their first interview and he made detectives aware that contact had been made between his mom and dad. He said his mom was going to take care of his dogs on the night of February 11, and he later learned that both Kelli and Todd Sr. had reached out to relatives to take care of those dogs, which he thought was abnormal since his mom was supposed to take care of those dogs. He also made detectives aware of a camera system at the house. Detectives contacted the company and were supplied images and video of both Kelli and Todd, not together, but indicating they were both there on the same day.
According to the criminal complaint, and corroborated by Fitzsimons under oath, 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 uttering: “I didn’t try to murder him, I did not want to kill him, I did not mean to do that.”
Attorney Leigh then called Dr. Rohrer who stated he has performed over 300 autopsies and after he conducted the autopsy on Todd Sr., his opinion is the cause of death was multiple sharp forced injuries. He stated the decedent had multiple stab wounds including to the lungs and liver leading to the death. Besides the stab wounds, Dr. Rohrer testified he had other minor injuries, scrapes and bruises, which were scattered around the body.
Leigh asked Rohrer if he had an opinion as to a reasonable degree of medical certainty as to the manner of Neckkash’s death. Dr. Rohrer answered, “homicide.’
The State requested the defendant bound over while the defense objected. Based on all the facts and circumstances, the Court found probable cause and bound the defendant over for trial in the death of Todd Nechkash, Sr. An arraignment date was set for Monday, April 6 at 3:15 p.m. She will appear via Zoom for that arraignment as she will be in a prison facility somewhere in Wisconsin for being revoked, and will be transported soon to a facility. Judge Allen remanded Nechkash back to the Iowa County Jail.
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.