WISCONSIN RAPIDS, WI (WSAU-WAOW) – A 57-year old man was found guilty of killing his younger brother by a Wood County jury. Ronald Horan will be sentenced December 5th. He could get up to 25 years in prison.
Horan claimed that he accidentally closed a door on 52-year-old Tracy Horan, causing him to fall down a flight of stairs. He buried the body in a shallow grave before going to police several hours later. Prosecutors said the victim died in a fight between the brothers, not an accidental fall.
Ronald Horan testified in his own defense for about 30 minutes on Wednesday. He got into an argument with his brother and his girlfriend during a night of drinking before a slammed a door on his younger brother. Horan said he heard some “thumps” and thought his brother had fallen down the stairs, he told the jury. Horan said he looked down the stairs, told his brother to get up and noticed blood coming from his head. Several hours had passed before he called 911.
Horan said he didn’t intend to hurt his brother.
A forensic pathologist testified Tracy Horan died from blunt force trauma to his neck.
