Richard Sotka was found guilty Monday in connection with the early 2023 deaths of two women in Green Bay.
- A jury in Green Bay Monday found Richard Sotka guilty on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of two women early last year.
- The defense never argued that Sotka wasn't involved in the deaths, but said he did not have the intent to kill them. Intent is required for a first-degree intentional homicide conviction.
- Watch the video to see the defendant's reaction as the first verdict was read.
(The following is the broadcast transcript.)
I'm Jon Erickson outside the Brown County courthouse.
And a jury has reached a verdict in the double homicide case against Richard Sotka, and that is guilty.
The jury deliberated for about an hour [Monday] afternoon.
Now, the defense did not dispute that Sotka was involved in the crimes, but they said that he did not have the intent to kill these two women who were the victims.
One of the victims was Sotka's girlfriend.
The defense said that [Sotka] even asked investigators, 'Are they deceased?' when they ended up catching up to him.
So, the defense did not want him convicted of first-degree intentional homicide, which does require that intent...
[P]olice say that when officers got to a home in Green Bay early last year, they found the victims, Rhonda Cegelski and Paula O'Connor.
Rhonda was Sotka's girlfriend.
A sentencing will be held at a later date.
