In the quiet community of Bellevue, near Green Bay, Wisconsin, a tragedy unfolded in the late summer of 2016. On August 29th, 52-year-old female, Suzette Langlois, was found in her car, parked in her own driveway, the victim of a fatal encounter. She had been shot once in the head, a violent end to her life that would leave her family and community searching for answers.
The initial investigation into her death began, but for a period, the person responsible remained at large, casting a shadow of unresolved justice over the case.
For two years, investigators worked to piece together the evidence left at the scene. A crucial discovery was a pistol magazine found inside Suzette's vehicle. This piece of evidence held the key to unlocking the case, as it contained DNA that would eventually lead authorities to their suspect. The forensic evidence pointed to a man named Anthony Kitchenakow, who was subsequently arrested in connection with the homicide. The motive behind the senseless act of violence was determined to be related to a drug debt that was owed by Suzette Langlois's boyfriend.
In September 2019, Anthony Kitchenakow, then 47, faced justice for his actions. In Brown County Circuit Court, he was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the death of Suzette Langlois. He was convicted on a charge of first-degree reckless homicide. Rather than proceeding to a trial, Kitchenakow entered an Alford plea, a plea in which the defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that the prosecution has enough evidence to likely secure a conviction. This brought a legal conclusion to a case that had begun with a sudden and tragic loss, finally providing a measure of closure for those who mourned Suzette Langlois.
