Eggert also charged with mutilating corpse
By Robert Cloud
Waupaca County Judge Vicki Clussman convicted Steven D. Eggert, 25, of arson, mutilating a corpse, armed burglary and felon in possession of a firearm after he entered pleas of no contest.
Clussman also dismissed 12 firearm-related charges on a motion by the prosecutor.
In a second case, Eggert entered an Alford plea to a charge of solicitation of first-degree intentional homicide.
In an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but does admit the prosecution has enough evidence to obtain a conviction.
Clussman convicted Eggert of the solicitation of homicide charge as well.
The court has not scheduled sentencing at this time.
Body found following fire
Shortly after 2 a.m. on April 27, a 911 caller reported a house fire on County Trunk P in the town of Harrison.
When Iola firefighters and Waupaca County deputies arrived at the scene, they found the house fully engulfed in flames. The roof and one of the walls had collapsed.
Within 20 minutes, the entire structure had collapsed into the basement.
Investigators later found a charred body under the smoldering debris.
Evidence indicated that the body of the home’s sole occupant, 62-year-old Kevin Roeglin, had been in the kitchen when it fell into the basement as the fire consumed the building.
Two witnesses later told investigators that Eggert said he had gone into the house and found Roeglin’s body inside.
Because there was a warrant for his arrest, Eggert said he did not want to contact the police, according to the criminal complaint.
He burned down the house in order to hide evidence that he had been there, the witnesses said.
Eggert was later arrested and charged on May 24, 2022. He remained in custody on a $250,000 bond.
Inmates say Eggert asked them to kill witness
While Eggert was in jail, he allegedly asked two inmates to murder one of the witnesses in his arson case.
According to the criminal complaint, an inmate said Eggert offered to pay him $60,000 to kill the witness.
When speaking with investigators, the second inmate identified the target witness by first and last name, described his appearance, gave directions to his home and knew the bar where the witness played pool.
After being charged with solicitation of first-degree homicide, Eggert’s cash bond was raised to $1 million.
Clussman revoked his bond following his convictions.
At his sentencing, Eggert faces up to 40 years in prison and extended supervision for arson, 12 years for mutilating a corpse, 15 years for armed burglary, 10 years for felon in possession of a firearm and 12 years for solicitation of homicide.