Tomah homicide suspects will go to trial
The two men suspected in the death of a Tomah man back in March will go to trial.
20 year-old Sebastian Martinez and 26 year-old Zachary Davis are charged in the death of 43 year-old Derek Magnuson.
The two men were last seen with Magnuson at the Econo Lodge hotel in Tomah on March 10.
On Friday, the state revealed new evidence at the two men's preliminary hearing.
"Mr. Magnuson was walking and Mr. Davis and Mr. Martinez pulled up along side him and asked him if he had any money," state witness Robert Walenski, an investigator with the Tomah PD, said. "Mr. Magnuson then got in the car with the two men and they went to a local hotel bar for a drink."
Martinez and Davis can be seen on surveillance video entering the Econo Lodge with the victim on the evening of March 10.
"They spend a considerable amount of time together, several hours,"Walenski said. "We have video of the three of them swimming in the hotel pool."
According to the criminal complaint, Davis became upset after Magnuson made an advance toward Martinez and an altercation ensued.
"Mr. Davis got out of the shower and witnessed Mr. Magnuson inappropriately touching Mr. Martinez according to Mr. Martinez's testimony," Walenski said.
Walenski added that Davis stabbed Magnuson several times with the machete, with the first strike going to his back.
Following the testimony, Monroe County Judge Todd Ziegler said there was enough evidence to warrant trial. The two men will be arraigned on May 29.