A La Crosse County jury found Jacob Klaver guilty of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Josh Pigney.

The fight in that bedroom was never really disputed. Intent was. Klaver's lawyer told jurors Klaver went to the Holmen house to confront his ex-girlfriend, that a fight with Pigney followed, and that the right verdict was reckless homicide. Prosecutors pointed to breaker and lock-picking searches and messages about Pigney. The jury took about an hour and chose intentional homicide, which in Wisconsin means a mandatory life sentence. A judge still has to impose it and decide on any extended-supervision eligibility.

A La Crosse County jury found Jacob A. Klaver, 39, guilty of first-degree intentional homicide on Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in the June 29, 2025, death of Josh Pigney, 37, News 8 (WKBT) reported. Jurors deliberated about an hour. Klaver faces a mandatory life sentence. The defense had asked jurors to return a lesser verdict of first- or second-degree reckless homicide.

According to the criminal complaint described by News 8, Holmen police were called to 815 Granum St. at about 5:39 a.m. that morning after a woman reported she could not wake her boyfriend. Officers found Pigney dead in an upstairs bedroom that was in disarray. Investigators determined the home's main electrical breaker had been switched off overnight. An autopsy at Mayo Clinic found Pigney died of strangulation and blunt force trauma, and the death was ruled a homicide. The woman told police $5,000 in cash she had set aside for a car was missing. The woman was Klaver's ex-girlfriend; she testified she had blocked him on multiple platforms and installed cameras because of his behavior. She is not named here.

At trial, prosecutors pointed to internet searches recovered from Klaver's phone, including whether flipping a breaker would disable home security cameras, whether Ring cameras have night vision, and residential lock-picking tools, and to messages in which he discussed Pigney's relationship with his ex, News 8 and WXOW reported. A DNA analyst testified DNA under Pigney's fingernails was connected to Klaver. A sheriff's lieutenant testified Klaver had cuts on his fingers and a black eye when interviewed. The complaint says traffic cameras placed Klaver's vehicle in West Salem at 1:44 a.m. despite his claim he stayed home, and a search of his Winona home turned up $5,000 in $100 bills and four lock-picking devices.

Defense attorney Russell Hammer acknowledged a fight in the bedroom but told jurors Klaver went to the house to confront his ex-girlfriend, that the altercation followed an attempted theft of $5,000, that there was no weapon, and that the evidence did not show he went there intending to kill Pigney, News 8 reported. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Thursday's verdict is the jury's finding that the State proved intent beyond a reasonable doubt. Klaver had been held on $1 million cash bond since his July 2025 arrest. A sentencing date was not reported.