CAUTION: Some viewers may find the content of this story disturbing.
TWO RIVERS (WLUK) – Payton Vertz was tied to a tree, beaten, then strangled to death before his clothes were burned and his body thrown into a river, according to criminal complaints released Monday.
Dominic Pilgreen, 26, and Nathan Reichard, 15, are charged with being an accessory to first-degree intentional homicide, physical abuse of a child, concealing a corpse, theft from a corpse and false imprisonment for the October 5 death of Vertz, 16.
Payton Vertz (Photo provided by Vertz Family/GoFundMe)
Reichard had a bond hearing Monday, during which $500,000 cash bail was set. He will return to court on November 2 for a first appearance.
At her hearing in Manitowoc County Court, District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said, “This is an extremely serious matter. We are dealing with a child who lost his life. It was only after they realized it wasn’t going to work that it turned into a one-night event. »
The judge, Hon. Jewel Scharenbroch, in setting bond, added: “This victim fought for his life. I am very concerned for our community if Mr. Reichard is there right now. It is extremely dangerous. What is being described here to the victim is that he was tortured. That he was killed in a brutal and depraved manner.”
In Wisconsin, people ages 10 to 16 charged with most homicide counts are charged in adult court. There is a mechanism for the defense to request that the case be transferred to juvenile court at a later stage in the case. Such requests are not granted automatically and are subject to review by a judge.
Pilgreen’s initial appearance in this case will also take place on November 2.
WLUK
According to the criminal complaint, Vertz was listed as a runaway on Oct. 6.
CAUTION: The criminal complaint contains graphic details.
Redacted Reichard complaintPDF preview
Criminal complaint charging Nathan Reichard with murder of Payton Vertz
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On Oct. 16, a Two Rivers high school student told police that Reichard had confessed to Vertz’s murder. The same day, another student told police that on September 16, Reichard “said they sold something to someone and if they didn’t pay them back what they owed, they would get what was coming to them.”
Police found a shoe and a bicycle in Zander Park belonging to Vertz, including clothing in a burn.
Also on October 16, Seagull Marina reported a body washed up near the docks.
Police questioned Reichard, who told police that he and Pilgreen got Vertz drunk with vodka so they could kill him.
Reichard told police that Pilgreen described what he planned to do to Vertz: beat him, tie him to a tree with his shoelaces, then strangle him. Reichard claimed he sat as a lookout for 90 minutes before Pilgreen returned, claiming Vertz was dead.
“PILGREEN told him in detail how he killed CHILD VICTIM. PILGREEN told REICHARD that he punched CHILD VICTIM several times in the face, chest and back. PILGREEN then stated that CHILD VICTIM’s face was badly bruised and that he was bleeding from the head. PILGREEN also stated that after CHILD VICTIM was beaten and laid on the ground, PILGREEN removed CHILD VICTIM’s shoes. He unlaced him and used his shoe laces to tie CHILD VICTIM to a tree. REICHARD stated that his belief that CHILD VICTIM was tied to the tree was so that he could think about why this happened to him before he was actually killed. used to strangle him, which was successful,” the complaint states.
Reichard said Pilgreen stole $320 from Vertz and was going to dump the body in a lake or river.
Police then questioned Pilgreen.
Pilgreen said Vertz gave him $100 for cigarettes, vodka and beer. Pilgreen then texted Reichard, telling him that this would be the night they would kill Vertz.
Contrary to Reichard’s story, Pilgreen told police that Reichard “took a turn where he was beating CHILD VICTIM very badly and REICHARD had to restrain himself from killing CHILD VICTIM so that it could be PILGREEN’s murder,” the complaint states.
Eventually, Vertz was unconscious, but Pilgreen tightened Vertz’s belt around his neck for 20 minutes to make sure he was dead.
Pilgreen said he used a cart to dispose of Vertz’s body. Police later found the cart and the belt.
A second police interview took place, with Pilgreen offering more explanation as to why this happened.
“PILGREEN stated that he despised CHILD VICTIM for what he had done, but “Kesley” only saw this as a reason to come out of the closet, and used it as an excuse to kill. It should be noted that PILGREEN stated that “Kesley” is one of his personalities. He stated that Kesley had been thinking about killing someone for years. He stated that this was his first murder but that he had tortured him and had physical altercations,” the complaint states.
Police spoke to Reichard again, who later admitted to more active participation.
“REICHARD stated the first thing that happened was he hit CHILD VICTIM with a stick, then PILGREEN held CHILD VICTIM against a tree and they started punching him in the stomach and PILGREEN kneed him in the side. REICHARD describes having more doubts but they were already in it and couldn’t stop,” the complaint states.
Reichard also helped tie Vertz to a tree, before kneeling again and punching him.
“They continued to tell him to admit and CHILD VICTIM kept questioning why this was happening to him. This made them both ‘very upset because of the constant repetition,’ the complaint states.
Like Pilgreen, Reichard claims a second character.
“REICHARD stated that it was almost 1 a.m. and he was also fighting Hallow and it then became very dangerous for the CHILD VICTIM because Hallow came out. Hallow is REICHARD’s violent personality that he claims to have,” the complaint states.
An autopsy showed Vertz suffered brain damage, multiple bruises and abrasions around his neck, and multiple bruises around his body, the complaint states.
According to Two Rivers police, a benefit for Payton’s family will be held at the Community House, 1710 W. Park Street in Two Rivers, on Nov. 14 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“All funds raised will be donated to ‘Payton’s Place’. A heated/cooled cabin where you can sit and talk with each other or a loved one who has passed away. If you knew Payton, you can come and be near him and where he loved to be. Let’s let Payton’s light shine forever and come together as a community to honor another soul who will soon be lost,” the event’s Facebook page says.
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