Second person charged in Bear Trap fire

HURLEY — Special prosecutor Richard Dufour brought charges against Jessica M. Carli, of Saxon, Thursday, the second person charged in the March fire that burned down the Bear Trap Inn and resulted in the death of Lisa Waldros.

Carli, 41, of Church Street, is charged with one count of aiding a felon as a party to a crime, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison and/or $25,000.

The criminal complaint against Carli alleges she knew Donald Rick had killed Waldros, of Kimball, and set fire to the bar and helped him attempt to hide the evidence.

According to the complaint, both Rick and Carli gave statements to investigators saying they had gone to the Lac du Flambeau casino the night of March 11, with Rick saying they had lost all their money.

The complaint said Carli told authorities that during the drive home, Rick suggested following a woman home to steal her purse. According to the complaint, Carli is alleged to have responded by telling Rick, “Go ahead and do whatever.”

The complaint said Rick later suggested following a bar patron home, to which Carli said, “Go do what you got to do.”

The complaint said Rick left the Church Street residence with a knife and mask, returning later and telling Carli that he had killed someone and had set fire to the bar.

Authorities say Carli admitted Rick asked for her assistance in disposing of evidence, including his clothes and shoes, as well as the knife allegedly used to kill Waldros.

Carli is alleged to have said she needed to go to the Walmart in Ashland and that he could come and dispose of the items on the trip.

Carli is alleged to have then driven Rick over the bridge crossing the Bad River to allow him to dispose of the items into the river.

The complaint also says Carli returned with Rick the next day to ensure the property had either sunk or washed away. Upon finding Rick’s shoes, the pair allegedly drove to two remote locations from the bridge in a further attempt to hide the shoes.

One of the shoes was later recovered, according to the authorities.

The complaint concludes by saying Carli “was aware that Donald Rick had killed (Waldros), although she did not know her exact identity and knew that the clothing, shoes and knife he was trying to dispose of was potential evidence of the crime,” when she helped him hide the items.

Carli is due in court Oct. 10.

Rick stood mute in court Thursday and Judge Patrick Madden entered not guilty pleas to six felonies, including arson and murder, for his role in the fire. A jury trial is scheduled for the week of Feb. 13, according to court records.

Dufour is an assistant attorney general with the Wisconsin Department of Justice.