'She pulled the trigger:' Chrystul Kizer charged in death of Kenosha man found shot in burning home
Chrystul Kizer
KENOSHA -- Chrystul Kizer, 17, of Milwaukee is now charged in connection with the death of a Kenosha man whose body was found in his burning home. The victim in this case is identified as Randall Volar III, 34. Prosecutors say Kizer bragged about the crime on Facebook. She's being held on $1 million cash bond, and faces life in prison.
"This is a crime, the most serious crime known to man, the taking of another human being's life," said Jon G. Mason, court commissioner as Kizer made her initial appearance Wednesday, June 13.
Kizer is accused of shooting Volar and then setting his house on fire on the morning of Tuesday, June 5.
She faces the following criminal charges:
Chrystul Kizer
According to the criminal complaint, emergency responders were first called to a home on 14th Avenue around 5:30 a.m. on June 5 for a house fire. Inside, they found Volar deceased -- his body "badly charred" and "unrecognizable."
"Not only do you commit a set of really heinous crimes, you light a body on fire, when you're not sure if the person's deceased or not," said Michael Graveley, Kenosha County district attorney.
Fatal fire on 14th Avenue in Kenosha
Chrystul Kizer
When investigators began looking at this case more closely, they determined Volar's vehicle had been taken from the residence. Milwaukee police later recovered it near 6th and Canal in Milwaukee. Inside the vehicle, officers found a receipt indicating a transaction at a Milwaukee area Family Dollar on June 5. Surveillance video showed three individuals, two males and a female juvenile, inside the store. Inside the vehicle, officers also found a cellphone which had photos of the same three people in the store -- who had taken selfies inside the vehicle. Investigators noted the "data tags on these photos were all taken after Mr. Volar's body had already been discovered."
The two males in the surveillance video were later identified by officials. Investigators spoke with one of them who identified the female as Kizer. That same person indicated where Kizer lived -- and noted she had taken an Uber ride from near that location to a location near Volar's home in Kenosha late on June 4.
Fatal fire on 14th Avenue in Kenosha
The complaint says detectives obtained a booking photo of Kizer -- and "it matched a selfie on a Facebook page that was attributed to" Kizer in this investigation. The complaint says "the Facebook page appeared to have a selfie taken in front of a set of black curtains and with other items which (the detective) could identify as items seen at the Volar home when he went there after the fire on June 5."
Chrystul Kizer
Fatal fire on 14th Avenue in Kenosha
Detectives monitored Kizer's Facebook page and noted on June 8, three days after the fire, she "posted a live video on her page in which the she displayed what appeared to be a handgun and pistol ammunition." She made reference to giving her brother the stolen car from Volar's residence -- and stated "she wasn't afraid to kill again." The detective indicated that also on her Facebook page, Kizer had shared an article from FOX6 News about the fire at Volar's home.
Prosecutors say she wrote on Facebook "this is my mugshot." After the crime, prosecutors say Kizer went to her boyfriend's house and "stated that she had shot the white dude."
Chrystul Kizer
"We do believe there is more to the story that hasn't been presented," said Ben Schwarz, Kizer's lawyer.
On June 9, detectives interviewed Kizer about the Volar case. Initially she told investigators "she had never been to Kenosha and knew nothing about the (stolen car)." When Kizer was shown a picture of Volar, she "indicated that he had helped her with money and places to stay."
Kizer later admitted that she was in Kenosha, the complaint says. Kizer "explained that she took an Uber to the (Volar) residence on June 4." When asked whether she was the one who shot Volar, Kizer admitted "she had gotten upset and she was tired of Mr. Volar touching her." The complaint says "she pulled the trigger."
Chrystul Kizer
When asked about the fire that was set after Volar was shot, the complaint says Kizer stated "she watches the show Criminal Minds and she decided to make a fire."
"Thought to herself, 'I better cover my tracks,'" said Graveley.
Kizer said she cleaned up after herself and put her dishes in the dishwasher and then poured a red liquor everywhere, grabbed tissues and toilet paper and started a fire. She also admitted to leaving the house out of a window rather than the front door.
Prosecutors say she took Volar's BMW, laptop and some cash.
"Certainly if you come to this community from another community and shoot someone twice in the head and then light them on fire, there's going to be severe consequences," said Graveley.
Investigators said they're still trying to determine exactly how Kizer met Volar, and the extent of their relationship. On Wednesday, prosecutors said they will be looking into Kizer's claims about Volar "touching her."
Meanwhile, a friend of Volar told FOX6 News he was an intelligent and caring man.
Kizer will be back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 19.
She has another open case out of Milwaukee County filed in August of 2017. She's charged with fleeing/eluding an officer. She pleaded guilty on June 4, a day before the fire, and is set for sentencing on June 27.