Theresa Coates, aged 47, tragically lost her life on August 17, 2015, in Saratoga, Wisconsin. The incident occurred when 17-year-old Miguel-Angel Oertel, who had recently been in a relationship with Coates' daughter, arrived at Coates' home with a shotgun. Earlier that day, Oertel had been communicating with Coates' daughter, expressing suicidal thoughts after their relationship ended.
Despite attempts by the daughter to alert authorities, Oertel managed to reach the Coates residence.
Upon arriving, Oertel entered the home and confronted Theresa Coates. During the confrontation, Oertel shot Coates in the abdomen and then attempted to take his own life by shooting himself in the head. Coates was found by officers in a hallway and later succumbed to her injuries at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. Oertel survived his self-inflicted gunshot wound and was subsequently hospitalized.
Following his recovery, Oertel was charged with first-degree reckless homicide. During the trial, Oertel's defense argued insanity, but the jury rejected this claim. Oertel was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison. The case highlighted the tragic consequences of a young man's emotional turmoil and the devastating impact on the Coates family. The legal proceedings and the emotional testimonies from Coates' family members underscored the profound loss and the lasting effects of the incident.
