CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. - A western Wisconsin man is officially charged with 11 criminal counts in the hit-and-run deaths of four Girl Scouts and an adult chaperone as they picked up trash on the side of a rural highway Saturday.
Among the counts against 21-year-old Colton Treu of Chippewa Falls are four of vehicular homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle, and four hit-and-run resulting in death. Investigators say both Treu and his passenger admitted they were huffing, inhaling chemicals from an aerosol can, before Treu lost control of the pickup they were in and struck the group in the highway ditch. Killed were 9-year-old Jayna S. Kelly of Lake Hallie, 10-year-old Autumn A. Helgeson of Lake Hallie, and 10-year-old Halylee J. Hickle and her mother 32-year-old Sara Jo Scheider of the Town of Lafayette.
Treu was arraigned in Chippewa County District Court via video link, and told the judge he is in the process of finding a new attorney. The hearing lasted less than five minutes: Treu's next court date is set for December 11 at 10 a.m.
As the legal wheels get rolling in the case against Treu, the families of his victims are coming to grips with their incredible losses. The parents of 9-year-old Jayna Kelley say they are just trying to survive the next moment. "We're keeping afloat on business and doing things we need to do for our older daughter," reflected Jayna's mother Robin Kelley. "I'm not sure how we'll be after things slow down. It's hard... it's nothing we were prepared to deal with."
Robin and her husband Brian Kelley describe Jayna as a devoted softball player and aspiring singer who had just taken her first voice lesson the Thursday before her young life ended. She had lots of friends, her mother said, and was someone kids just wanted to be around.
"A student, if they needed help in class she was the one helping them. If her sister was sad about something she'd be the one giving her a blanket or stuffed animal. So much love..." Robin recalled with tears in her eyes.
"She loved being a kid," Brian said, smiling. "Sports, starting to get a little boy crazy ... she had really close friends. They're like kids to us too. I just hope we can keep them in our lives, even though Jayna's gone."
The Kelley's say they're very angry, referring to Saturday's hit-and-run as "the evil that happened." And yet that anger is offset by the kindness and support pouring in, not only from the community of Chippewa Falls but from across the country.
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the families of the girl scouts killed, and another for the girl who is still in the hospital.
A friend of Sara Schneider is also donating proceeds from her handmade ornaments to benefit Sara Haylee's family.
