Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
By RALPH ANSAMI
Hurley — Additional restitution was set Wednesday afternoon in Iron County Court for Donald Rick, who was convicted of murder in the fire that destroyed the Bear Trap Inn in Saxon.
Rick was previously sentenced to a mandatory life sentence by Judge Patrick Madden in the stabbing death of Lisa Waldros, of Kimball.
On Wednesday, additional restitution of $30,000 from Rick was approved for Theresa Henning, sister of Lisa Waldros and owner of the Bear Trap.
Rick, 45, pleaded guilty to killing Waldros while robbing the Bear Trap and setting fire to the building on March 12, 2016.
Assistant Attorney General Richard Dufour, who prosecuted the case, and defense attorney Courtney Latzig stipulated to the $30,000 Wednesday in a brief court hearing after Latzig talked to Rick by a telephone set-up.
The restitution will come out of money Rick makes while working in prison, not to exceed 60 percent of his wages.
Restitution of $7,678 was previously ordered by Madden, including $5,600 to the neighboring Saxon Pub, which received fire damage. Other individuals were given the opportunity to file for restitution within 60 days of the sentencing.
Rick stabbed Waldros five times in the neck, including once in the jugular vein, and then returned to Bear Trap and poured gas on her and lit it as she was still alive.
At sentencing, Waldros’ husband, Dean Waldros, said, “A monster came to Saxon and took the most loving person in this world away. The town of Saxon has never been the same.”
Latzig claimed Rick did not enter the tavern with intent to kill, only to rob. She said childhood trauma and the fact he was no longer using Prozac he was given in prison contributed to his actions.
