LACROSSE, Wis. — The elected LaCrosse County district attorney, Tim Gruenke, has egg on his face. Without forensic evidence, a murder and arson case against Matthew Sierra, age 38, is on hold. Judge Scott Horne said he will dismiss the charges unless Gruenke’s prosecution team procures more evidence. This was after prosecutors admitted not having seen a report from fire investigators nor autopsies. “It may well be that the pathologist findings and the fire marshal’s findings may support the allegations, but I can’t make that finding from the complaint as it stands today,” Judge Horne said. The criminal complaint against Sierra says video surveillance showed Sierra leaving Alexis Pickett’s townhouse minutes before the fire started. It also quotes neighbors hearing a struggle with the dog inside. Judge Horne said that prosecutors proceeded prematurely without seeing autopsies and reports on whether there was arson. Meanwhile, Sierra remains in jail in lieu of $1 million bail.
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