A 54-year-old man in Wisconsin is facing a first-degree intentional homicide charge after allegedly running over his 50-year-old roommate, John Bacher, in a pickup truck and dragging his body more than 100 feet in broad daylight.
Chad Michael Martinez was arrested earlier this month in connection with the deadly incident that occurred on August 10.
Fatal Collision Witnessed by Several
According to the probable cause affidavit, the Milwaukee Police Department responded to reports of a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle at around 5:15 p.m.
Officers arrived at the intersection of S. Muskego Avenue and W. Burnham Street to find Bacher being treated by medical personnel. He was pronounced dead on the way to the hospital.
A witness described seeing a beige Ford F-150 pickup truck near the scene just before the collision. The witness had been riding his tricycle and noticed the truck, later spotting it again as Bacher was crossing Burnham Street. The witness saw Bacher’s body “badly mangled” after the impact.
Surveillance Footage Confirms Intentional Act
Surveillance footage from nearby cameras corroborated the witness’s account, showing Martinez deliberately targeting Bacher with the truck. Police confirmed that Bacher’s body was found more than 100 feet from where the initial collision occurred, supporting the claim that the act was intentional.
Suspect Found in Pickup Truck with High Blood Alcohol Content
After tracing the pickup truck to the “El Jaliscience” car dealership, officers found the F-150 running in the parking lot with Martinez in the driver’s seat. He appeared disoriented, with a strong odor of alcohol and urine.
A breath test later showed that Martinez’s blood alcohol content was 0.215, nearly three times the legal limit for operating a vehicle.
The truck’s bumper also had blood stains, consistent with having run over a person, according to police.
No Memory of the Incident
Martinez told police that Bacher was his long-time roommate and colleague at the dealership, and the two had known each other for 25 years. Despite the evidence, Martinez claimed he had no memory of the incident, including running over his roommate.
Legal Proceedings and Bail
Martinez has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 25.
