LaViolette accused of hiring another prisoner to kill girlfriend, mother
By Robert Cloud
A Waupaca County inmate is accused of hiring another prisoner to kill his mother and girlfriend.
Cole G. LaViolette, 21, Clintonville, is charged with two counts of solicitation for homicide.
On July 21, LaViolette’s cellmate, Alvin Ford, reported that LaViolette wanted him to murder his mother and girlfriend.
Ford, who was a Wood County safekeeper inmate at the Waupaca County jail, spoke to Waupaca County Deputy Neil Giefer. He had shared a cell with LaViolette for about two weeks.
According to the criminal complaint, Ford said LaViolette would sit in his bunk, sometimes crying and expressing anger and frustration at his family,
Ford said LaViolette was upset because he believed his mother and girlfriend were selling guns, cattle, logs and farm equipment that he claimed he inherited from his grandfather. He also accused the two women of fabricating stories that resulted in his being put in jail.
Ford told Detective Sgt. James Gorman that LaViolette initially suggested using his own gun. When Ford said it would be too easy to trace, LaViolette said they could buy or steal a gun from Milwaukee, then sell it after the murder, according to the complaint.
LaViolette allegedly told Ford where his mother lives and said he should pull up in a car beside her and shoot her in the head.
Ford said LaViolette wanted him to hold a gun to the girlfriend’s head and inject her with a large amount of heroin to make the murder appear to be an overdose.
On Aug. 21, Ford met with Gorman and state Division of Criminal Investigation agents. He attempted to negotiate a deal with the Wood County prosecutor, who refused. Ford then agreed to continue helping with the investigation on the condition that he be moved to another facility after investigators questioned LaViolette about the plan to hire Ford for murder.
Ford also agreed to wear a recording device in his cell.
In a transcript from the recording, Ford reads a letter to LaViolette from his girlfriend. She expresses affection for LaViolette and says she looks forward to his release.
“It ain’t gonna change your mind?” Ford asks.
“No,” LaViolette replies.
The two inmates talk about buying cellphones that cannot be traced and leaving heroin in the girlfriend’s purse or on top of her dresser.
“How much you gonna give me after I kill her?” Ford asks.
“I thought it was like ten,” LaViolette responds.
“Ten thousand?” Ford asks.
“Yeah,” LaViolette says.
Prior to his sharing a cell with Ford, LaViolette was charged with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct on July 9.
On July 20, Assistant District Attorney James Fassbender filed a motion to terminate a November 2014 deferred prosecution agreement on a sexual assault charge against LaViolette. That motion is scheduled for a hearing on Oct. 20.