Wisconsin 18-year-old kills doctor and her husband, dumps their bodies in ditch after 'calculated' murder
MADISON, WISCONSIN: A teenager has been arrested and charged in connection to the murders of a respected physician and her husband, and who were found "lying in a ditch" at a Madison research and recreation area this week.
The bodies of Dr. Beth Potter, 52, a University of Wisconsin physician, and her husband Robin Carre, 57, an independent education consultant, were found by a jogger in the UW Arboretum, which comprises of more than 1,200 acres of forests and prairies, at around 6:30 am on Tuesday, March 31.
Carre was pronounced dead at the scene while Potter died shortly after she was rushed to an area hospital. The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently determined that they had died from "homicidal related trauma," but did not reveal any further details.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison police said their slayings were not by chance, with spokesperson Marc Lovicott stating, "Through our police investigation, we reached a point where we are confident that this was not a random act of violence, and this couple was targeted."
On Friday, authorities arrested Khari Sanford, an 18-year-old "known to the family," in connection to Potter's and Carre's death.
He has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and is being held at Dane County Jail, said Wisconsin Police Chief Kristen Roman said in a Friday video statement.
"We believe that this was not a random act," Roman said. "It was calculated, cold-blooded, and senseless and we will continue to do all we can do to bring justice to Robin and Beth, their family, and their loved ones."
Potter was an associate professor at the university's Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, as well as a physician for the Wingra Family Medical Center and Medical Director of Employee Health Services for UW Health.
In a statement paying tribute to the 52-year-old, UW School of Medicine and Public Health said she "approached the practice of family medicine with tremendous compassion, earning the respect of patients and colleagues alike."
"Words cannot express our grief," said William Schwab, MD, professor and interim chair, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. "In addition to being a wonderful family physician and highly respected teacher, Beth was a dedicated leader at the Wingra clinic and in our health system. She was wise, warm, and always supportive. There are so many in our department whose lives have been touched by Beth; her loss will weigh heavily within us."
Her husband ran a business called Carre College Coaching and had also previously served as an adjunct history professor at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wisconsin and coaching director at a youth Madison soccer organization, Regent Soccer Club.
"Robin was always there with a shoulder to lean on," said Regent director Julie Bernhardt said in a statement to the Wisconsin State Journal. "Robin was a mentor to many and all-around one of the nicest, kindest, gentlest people I have ever known. This community will miss Robin dearly."
Police have not yet revealed a motive for the murders.