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LA CROSSE (WKBT) — 38-year-old Zachary Fritz will spend the rest of his life in a psychiatric facility.
Judge Elliot Levine ruled that Fritz was not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in La Crosse County court Wednesday afternoon, following a five-day bench trial.
In November 2025, Fritz pleaded no contest by reason of mental disease or defect to first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his wife. Per Judge Levine’s not guilty by mental disease ruling, Fritz will now be committed to institutional care.
Fritz’s wife died on June 10, 2024, at their home on Redwood Court in the Town of Shelby. She had more than 50 stab wounds and bite marks on her body.
A medical examiner said the wounds were not self-inflicted, even though Fritz initially claimed his wife killed herself. Fritz later acknowledged he believed he placed a knife in her hand but said he did not remember doing so. A bench trial to decide his fate began in late February.
Bench Trial of Zachary Fritz
In the first day of Fritz’s trial, the defense argued that he has bipolar I disorder and was in a manic episode that led to a blackout during the attack, citing past hospital/mental-health records, expert testimony from a forensic psychologist, and body-camera video from his arrest showing erratic behavior.
Prosecutors countered that Fritz’s actions were driven by alcohol abuse—not mania—arguing he appeared rational and cooperative shortly after police arrived, pointing to medical history referencing loss of control while drinking, and noting witnesses did not observe manic symptoms leading up to the killing; his parents testified they saw nothing unusual in the days before his wife’s death and urged accountability.
After dueling expert opinions—including a forensic psychiatrist who said Fritz does not have bipolar disorder—the case went to Judge Levine for a verdict, who ruled for Fritz to be committed to psychiatric care.
COPYRIGHT 2026 BY NEWS 8 NOW/NEWS 8000. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.