Life Sentence

A Colfax man who killed his father will spend the rest of his life in a mental institution.
That was the sentence handed down by Judge Rod Smeltzer on Friday to Gary Styer after he pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. Styer was charged with 1St degree intentional homicide back in January for killing his dad with a 2×4 piecjcod.
In court on Friday, Dunn County District Attorney Andrea Nodolf said Styer is “not a normal functioning member of our community” and requested the judge order life in an institution.
Nodolf said Styer was spanked as a child by his father and because of his mental illness he was never able to get over that.
She said Styer likes to keep to himself so a group home would not be a good idea for him. She also called him “volatile and unpredictable.”
The defense agreed with Nodoif saying Styer was isolated. They said Styer felt like a burden to his father which led to the build-up of his mental illness. Judge Smeltzer said Styer is a “prisoner of his own mind.” He said releasing Styer into the community would put others at risk of harm. Smeltzer added the seriousness of the crime doesn’t allow for release into the community.
In the end, Smeltzer committed Styer to institutional care with the Department of Health and Human Services for the rest of his life.
Styer was emotional throughout sentencing. His attorney. said Styer has been praying for forgiveness from the rest of his family.
He was credited 233 days for time already served.