By Vicky Wedig
SLN Staff
An East Troy man will proceed to trial Nov. 27 for his role in the January shooting death of his friend only if a theft case is settled before then.
Judge Kristin Drettwan said Monday that case – against a 31-year-old Oconomowoc man – is unlikely to settle and will likely be tried Nov. 27. If the theft case proceeds to trial, a trial for Tyler M. Odell, 22, will be moved to Feb. 12, 13 and 14.
Odell is charged with first-degree reckless homicide in the Jan. 2 death of David A. Bauspies at Odell’s East Troy apartment. Odell owned the gun that Robert M. Sterling, 32, of McHenry, Ill., used to fire a fatal shot to Bauspies’ head during a game of Russian roulette at Odell’s home, according to the criminal complaint. Sterling was sentenced Sept. 15 to 15 years in prison and 10 years extended supervision for his role in Bauspies’ death.
During Sterling’s sentencing hearing, District Attorney Zeke Wiedenfeld explained the circumstances that resulted in Bauspies’ death.
He said Sterling, Bauspies and Richard D. Pryor, 48, were helping Odell move in East Troy on Jan. 2. The friends were drinking, taking drugs, being rowdy and behaving recklessly, he said. At one point, Odell brought out a large revolver, put a bullet in the chamber, put it up to his own head and talked about having suicidal thoughts, Wiedenfeld said. Sterling took the gun, pointed it at his own head and pulled the trigger, but nothing happened. Sterling then pointed the gun at David Bauspies’ face and pulled the trigger, Wiedenfeld said.
Odell and Pryor ran from the scene while Sterling stayed with Bauspies, called 911, tried to perform CPR and cooperated with police, he said.
Odell had no alcohol in his system 5-1/2 hours after Bauspies was shot but had cocaine, marijuana and “benzos” in his blood stream, Wiedenfeld said.
