Chad Bickler, aged 42, tragically lost his life on December 26, 2019, in Wind Lake, Wisconsin. Chad was a beloved member of his community, known for his love of sports, family gatherings, and outdoor activities such as fishing and camping. His sudden death left a profound impact on his family and friends, who remembered him for his infectious laughter and kind spirit.
The circumstances surrounding Chad Bickler's death were both shocking and tragic.
On the night of December 26, 2019, Chad was shot multiple times by Troy Hoffman, a 41-year-old man from New Berlin. The incident occurred after Hoffman followed his ex-girlfriend to a residence in the Town of Norway, where Chad was present. According to the criminal complaint, Hoffman had discovered that his ex-girlfriend was dating Chad and had sent her threatening messages prior to the shooting. On the night of the incident, Hoffman crashed his vehicle into his ex-girlfriend's car, confronted her, and subsequently shot Chad multiple times. Chad was pronounced dead at a hospital in Franklin.
Following the incident, Troy Hoffman was formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide on December 30, 2019. Hoffman's legal proceedings were marked by several significant developments. Initially, Hoffman pleaded not guilty, but his plea was later amended to not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. A competency hearing was held, and a psychiatrist's report indicated that Hoffman might suffer from a mental disease. Despite these claims, Hoffman eventually changed his plea to no contest in February 2021, leading to a guilty verdict for first-degree intentional homicide with the use of a dangerous weapon. Additional charges of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and mistreatment of an animal causing death were dropped as part of the plea agreement, but they were read into the court record.
On April 23, 2021, Troy Hoffman was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The court proceedings revealed that Hoffman had no prior criminal history and was recently divorced at the time of the incident. The tragic death of Chad Bickler and the subsequent legal battle highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence and mental health issues on individuals and communities.
