WINONA, Minnesota (WXOW) - The man charged in connection
with the shooting deaths of Paul and AJ Petras has been brought to the La Crosse
County jail Thursday to face homicide charges.
He will appear in La Crosse County Court Friday at 1:30 p.m.
for a hearing.
Online jail records show Jeffry Lepsch is held without bond on charges of
first degree intentional homicide, armed robbery and felon in possession of a
firearm.
In a Winona courtroom Thursday morning, Lepsch, 39, waived
his right to an extradition hearing. He agreed to voluntarily return to La
Crosse.
Lepsch was arrested near his home in Dakota, Minn. on Oct. 10, then
jailed in Winona County in connection with the Petras' deaths.
Paul Petras and his son AJ Petras were
found dead inside May's Photo at 425 Main Street in downtown La Crosse Saturday,
Sept. 15.
La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke, in Winona
for the hearing, said typically, people do not fight extradition.
"The only issue at that point is if you're the person
named in the complaint and if the arrest is legal," Gruenke said. "The facts and
the circumstances in the case don't come up. So, most people don't fight
it."
For security reasons, the La Crosse County Sheriff's
Department didn't say when Lepsch was transported back to La Crosse.
He could appear in a La Crosse courtroom as early as
Friday for his initial appearance.
According to a criminal complaint, the Petras' were killed
in May's Photo between 2 p.m., when the store closed, and 5:15 p.m. Paul's wife
discovered their bodies.
Law enforcement used surveillance footage from neighboring
businesses to track down Lepsch.
After law enforcement searched Lepsch's home, they found
camera equipment. Investigators said the equipment was taken from May's
Photo.
A total of $16,000 worth of equipment was stolen from the
Petras' photo shop. Not all the pieces were recovered at Lepsch's home,
according to the criminal complaint.
