June 12--Jeremy L. Wand, accused of helping his brother Armin G. Wand III set a fire that killed Armin's three sons, with the intent of collecting insurance money, pleaded guilty Wednesday to homicide charges in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
Jeremy Wand, 19, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of attempted first-degree attempted homicide, according to court records.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, one count of arson and one count of felony murder, unborn child, for his role in the Sept. 7, 2012 blaze in Argyle.
The fire killed Joseph Wand, 3; Jeffery Wand, 5 and Allen Wand, 7. It injured their mother Sharon Wand and sister Jessica Wand, 2.
Sharon Wand was pregnant at the time and lost the baby after the fire, according to a criminal complaint.
According to the complaint, Armin Wand, 33, decided to kill his family for insurance money and promised his younger brother $300 from the proceeds for his help, although Jeremy Wand told investigators they were only trying to torch the house for the renters' insurance money.
During the fire Armin Wand tried unsuccessfully to push his 2-year-old daughter back into the flames after she had escaped, according to the complaint.
In February he pleaded guilty to similar charges and was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison with no possibility of parole, according to court records.
Sentencing for Jeremy Wand is scheduled for July 19.
Copyright 2013 - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
