Case involving Dennis Brantner, accused in death of Berit Beck, now in the hands of the jury

FOND DU LA COUNTY -- Closing arguments were heard on Monday, June 27th in the trial of 62-year-old Dennis Brantner. He is the man accused of killing Berit Beck in Fond du Lac County nearly two decades ago.

This case is now in the hands of the jury.

This, after an 11-day jury trial to determine whether the 62-year-old man killed Beck when he was 36.

Back on July 17, 1990, Beck made a stop at a store on her way from Sturtevant to Appleton for work. She was never seen alive again.

Berit Beck

Beck’s van was found in a Fond du Lac parking lot two days later. Approximately five-and-a-half weeks later, her body was found in rural Fond du Lac County. Autopsy reports concluded that strangulation was likely the cause of death.

Berit Beck's van found

Berit Beck's body found

Then two years ago, testing found Brantner's fingerprint DNA on Beck's vehicle.

According to a criminal complaint, Branter’s fingerprints were on a number of items officials found in Beck’s van — including a Burger King cup and a bleach kit. Officials say Beck bought the kit at Walgreens the day she disappeared.  A total of nine of the Racine truck driver's fingerprints were found either in the van or on items in the van.

In 2014, Brantner was questioned and eventually broke down into tears.

Dennis Brantner

"I don't know. I don't know what to say. My problem is I don't remember if I did it. If I did it, I did it. If I did it, I don't know," Brantner said.

The defense says there is other DNA evidence in the van not linked to Brantner.

"These are just items in the van. They don't say anything to you about whether Mr. Brantner intentionally killed Ms. Beck. Nothing," the defense said.

Dennis Brantner

The prosecution argued Brantner was familiar with the area where Beck was killed, and where her body was dumped -- that he lived not far away.

"Follow the evidence. Follow that evidence and what I'm asking you to do is to find Dennis Brantner guilty of first degree intentional homicide," the prosecution said.

Shortly after 5:00 p.m. Monday, it was decided that the jury would go home for the night -- and deliberations would resume Tuesday, June 28th.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.