An 81-year-old man from Wisconsin has pleaded guilty to killing his 77-year-old wife, admitting to beating her to death with an unopened bottle of sparkling grape juice. John E. Berthold confessed to the crime, citing his wife’s alleged narcissism and their disagreements over estate division as his motivations.
John Berthold pleaded guilty on Thursday, May 16, 2024, to one count of second-degree intentional homicide with a domestic abuse modifier for the 2023 murder of Diane Berthold. The plea deal included a downgrade from the initial charge of first-degree intentional homicide and the removal of an additional penalty modifier related to the victim’s elderly status.
On July 13, 2023, one of the Bertholds’ sons visited his parents’ home in the Town of Washington, Wisconsin, suspecting they were either away or napping. However, he soon heard uncontrollable yelling from their bedroom. Rushing to investigate, he found his father with a plastic bag over his head in an apparent suicide attempt. After removing the bag and calling 911, he discovered his mother’s lifeless body on the bed with a towel over her face.
In a police interview, John Berthold admitted to the killing, saying he “couldn’t take it anymore” and had been contemplating the act for weeks. He explained that he struck his wife with the unopened bottle while she slept. Berthold showed little remorse during the investigation, reportedly stating he would repeat his actions if given the chance.
The couple’s financial advisor revealed that John and Diane had been planning a divorce but decided against it shortly before Diane’s death. According to John, the primary issue was Diane’s desire to divide their estate equally among their children and grandchildren, a plan he opposed.
Eau Claire Circuit Court Judge Beverly Wickstrom has ordered the state Department of Corrections to complete a pre-sentence investigation by July 18. John Berthold’s legal team must conduct its own investigation by August 30. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 18, and Berthold will likely face a lengthy prison term.
