WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WSAU) -- A Wisconsin Rapids man accused of shooting a man to death in 2008 is now accused of shooting his wife thirty years ago.
55-year-old Joseph Reinwand of Wisconsin Rapids is already in prison for weapons violations and burglary. He also faces homicide charges for the death of Dale Meister, who was found shot to death in his Wisconsin Rapids home in March of 2008. Meister was the father of Reinwand’s granddaughter.
Reinwand’s wife Pamela was a new mother and 19-years-old when she died of a gunshot wound May 13th of 1984 at their home in Plover. That death was thought to be a suicide, but further investigation including reexamination of Pamela’s exhumed body in 2009 led police to different conclusions.
A tip from 2008 caused investigators to bring Pamela’s body back to the crime lab for more scientific testing. New technology is credited with providing prosecutors the evidence they need to charge Reinwand.
Reinwand is expected to appear in Portage County Circuit Court August 19 on a charge of 1st degree murder for the death of his wife. He is also expected to appear for motions hearings in Wood County August 29th for the murder of Dale Meister. It’s not known if Reinwand’s defense will seek to have the cases combined. The jury trial for the death of Meister is scheduled to begin October 17th in Wood County.