On a summer evening in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, the life of James Gruettner, a 59-year-old White / Caucasian male, was abruptly cut short. On August 4, 2020, what began as a family helping with a vehicle repair descended into violence. Gruettner was at his daughter's home on Minnesota Street, along with a family friend, John Miller, to work on a car belonging to his daughter, Rebecca Borkowski.
It was there that Joshua Aide, Borkowski's 39-year-old ex-boyfriend, appeared.
The relationship between Aide and Borkowski had ended months prior, in March 2020, after a five-year relationship that she said involved physical abuse. Aide had been sending messages in an attempt to reconcile, but his efforts were denied. The dispute that evening centered on the vehicle they co-owned. Aide arrived at the residence and opened fire, shooting Gruettner, Borkowski, and Miller. James Gruettner was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. Both Borkowski and Miller sustained serious gunshot injuries but survived.
Aide fled the scene but was apprehended by the Green Lake County Sheriff's Office a few hours later. He was charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide for the death of James Gruettner and two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide for shooting Rebecca Borkowski and John Miller. During the trial, Aide claimed he acted in self-defense, asserting that Gruettner had attacked him and that Borkowski and Miller had brandished weapons. The prosecution presented a different narrative, rooted in domestic violence, jealousy, and control, highlighting that Aide had called Borkowski 49 times on the day of the shooting.
In May 2021, a jury found Joshua Aide guilty on all charges. He was subsequently sentenced in July 2021 to life in prison without the possibility of extended supervision. The tragic event left James Gruettner's family, including his wife of 31 years, Julie, and his children, devastated by their sudden and profound loss.
