Court records indicate an 80-year-old man, who allegedly referred to his wife as a “creature”, is set to appear in court later this month regarding a fatal incident at a Wisconsin nature preserve.
George Paul faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of 80-year-old Susan Paul, his wife. The Sauk County Sheriff’s Office and court records confirm this. Additional charges include intentionally pointing a firearm, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, criminal damage to property, and discharging a firearm within 100 yards of a building.
Competency to Stand Trial
On Tuesday, a judge ruled that Paul is competent to stand trial, as the trial docket indicates. The incident occurred on May 8 at Pewitt’s Nest Nature Preserve in Baraboo, Wisconsin, approximately 50 miles northwest of Madison.
The sheriff’s office reported that multiple witnesses saw a man pull a woman from a vehicle before shooting her multiple times and fleeing. Deputies found Susan Paul dead from close-range gunshot wounds in the nature preserve’s parking lot.
Subsequent Police Department Shooting
About an hour later, a man later identified as George Paul drove into the Sauk Prairie Police Department parking lot in a Kia Carnival minivan. He exited the vehicle and fired several shots into the front door and vestibule of the police department. No staff members were injured.
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Police detained Paul and linked him to the earlier shooting at Pewitt’s Nest. During an interview with detectives, Paul claimed his wife was a “creature” who had been impersonating her for decades. This information comes from a criminal complaint obtained by WISC, a regional CBS affiliate. He also expressed conspiracy theories about such creatures attempting to take over the world and stated he shot at the police department to get officers’ attention.
Background and Personal Details
George Paul was known to law enforcement for having dementia and had previously threatened to shoot a police staffer. He admitted to killing his wife. Upon arrest, officers found a pistol, a purse, and blood inside his vehicle.
Susan Paul’s obituary highlights her 60-year relationship with George, whom she met in college. She accompanied him to Japan during his military service and worked as a teacher there. She is survived by two children, several grandchildren, and other relatives. Her obituary remembers her for her kindness, smile, laughter, and hugs.
George Paul’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 15.
