On a cold day in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, the life of 35-year-old Dale Meister was tragically cut short. On March 4, 2008, Meister was found shot to death, leaving his family and friends in shock and grief. The initial investigation into his murder would uncover a dark history of violence that extended back decades, ultimately leading to justice for more than one victim.
The investigation into Meister's death soon focused on Joseph Reinwand, the father of Meister's ex-girlfriend,
Jolynn. At the time of his death, Meister and Jolynn were embroiled in a contentious custody dispute over their child. Friends of Meister would later testify that he had expressed fear of Reinwand in the time leading up to his murder. He had told them that Reinwand had chillingly claimed to have gotten away with murder before and could do it again.
These statements became a crucial piece of evidence for prosecutors. As detectives delved deeper into Reinwand's past, they reopened the 1984 case of his wife Pamela's death, which had been ruled a suicide at the time. The investigation into Meister's homicide had unearthed new evidence that cast suspicion on Reinwand's account of his wife's death. He had claimed that after an argument, she had shot herself. However, the new findings suggested a more sinister truth.
Ultimately, Joseph Reinwand was arrested and charged with the first-degree intentional homicide of Dale Meister. In October 2014, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder. The evidence presented at trial, including Meister's own chilling premonitions about Reinwand, painted a clear picture of a man who would resort to violence to settle a family dispute. Following his conviction for Meister's murder, Reinwand was also tried and convicted for the 1984 murder of his wife, Pamela. The investigation into one man's untimely death had finally brought a long-hidden crime to light, securing justice for two families and closing two painful chapters of uncertainty.
