Closing arguments, jury deliberations set for Monday in trial of Amy Van Wagner

WAUKESHA COUNTY -- On the ninth day of her jury trial, Friday, March 10th, the defense rested in the trial of Amy Van Wagner. Closing arguments are expected to take place Monday, March 13th.

53-year-old Amy Van Wagner is accused of fatally shooting her husband, Stanley Van Wagner in their home in 2015. She was arrested nine months later.

Van Wagner declined to testify in her own trial. Friday's testimony focused on the time of death of her late husband.

Former Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Jeffrey Jentzen took the stand for the defense.

"You indicate that the wound to the chest would have caused Mr. Van Wagner to die rapidly. Is that correct?" asked John Schiro, defense attorney.

"Yes," said Jentzen.

Prosecutors say Van Wagner fatally shot her husband Stanley in the early morning hours of May 15, 2015. Investigators discovered the body on the evening of May 17th -- more than 60 hours later. But Jentzen said the evidence shows Stanley Van Wagner had only been dead between 18 and 30 hours when he was found.

"Typically you don't see changes of decomposition until 36 hours or so," Jentzen said. "The body in my opinion did not show any signs of decompositional changes."

In cross examination, prosecutors showed Jentzen a photo of Stanley Van Wagner's blood in the family's home. They say Amy Van Wagner put a deerskin rug over the stain at 5:30 a.m. on May 15th.

The defense argued those circumstances have not been established as fact. The judge ruled the statements were appropriate -- and that Jentzen could answer the question.

"It's my opinion still that the findings of the body are still most consistent with a time of death around 36 hours," Jentzen said.

"But you can't say for sure, can you sir?" Ask the prosecutor.

"I can't say for sure," Jentzen said.