Charges dismissed in Kenosha County homicide case

KENOSHA — Homicide charges against a Kenosha man accused of mutilating his wife with a knife and shooting her have been dismissed because the defendant has died in a mental health treatment facility.

Kenosha County District Attorney Robert Zapf says he regrets that his office was never able to prosecute the case against Gary Sabol. He was charged in 2008 with homicide and sexual assault of his 64-year-old wife, Joann Reidenbach.

Sabol was declared mentally incompetent and has been in a mental health center since 2009. The Kenosha News says Zapf moved for dismissal Tuesday, telling the judge Sabol died recently at age 70.

Prosecutors could have restarted the case against Sabol if his competency improved. But, Zapf says the defendant never got better.