Todd Kendhammer is a man who was convicted of killing his wife, Barbara, in a staged car accident in 2016. He claimed that a metal pipe flew off a truck and smashed through the windshield of their car, hitting Barbara in the head. However, the authorities found his story to be inconsistent and implausible, and accused him of beating his wife to death and then faking the accident. Todd Kendhammer’s case has attracted a lot of media attention, and has been featured on CBS News’ 48 Hours and other platforms. But who is Todd Kendhammer, and what really happened on that fateful day? Here is everything you need to know about the pipe murder and the man behind it.
The Background of Todd Kendhammer
Todd Kendhammer was born in 1969 in Wisconsin, and married Barbara in 1991. They had two children together, Jessica and Jordan, and lived in West Salem, Wisconsin. Todd worked as a glass installer and ran a windshield replacement business on the side. Barbara worked as a cafeteria worker at a middle school. According to their friends and family, they were a happy and loving couple, who had just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and had their first grandchild.
The Day of the Accident
On September 16, 2016, Todd and Barbara were driving along a rural road outside La Crosse, Wisconsin, when Todd called 911 to report that his wife was injured in a car accident. He said that a pipe had fallen off a truck going in the opposite direction and had crashed into their windshield, striking Barbara in the head. He said he had pulled over, removed the pipe, and dragged his wife out of the car to perform CPR on her. The first responders arrived at the scene and rushed Barbara to the hospital, where she died the next day. Todd was also treated for minor injuries, including cuts on his hands and a bruise on his neck.
The Investigation and Trial of Todd Kendhammer
The police were suspicious of Todd’s story from the beginning, as they found several inconsistencies and contradictions in his account. For instance, Todd said he was driving to pick up a truck that needed a windshield change, but the owner of the truck said he had never made such an arrangement with Todd. Todd also changed his story several times, saying he was going to different locations or meeting different people. The police also did not find any evidence of a truck matching Todd’s description on the surveillance footage from a nearby horse farm. Moreover, the medical examiner concluded that Barbara’s injuries were not consistent with the pipe accident, but rather with a physical assault. She had multiple blunt force injuries to her head and neck, a broken nose, scratches on her neck, and bruising on her body. The pipe, which was found to be from Todd’s workplace, had no blood or tissue on it, and the windshield had no impact marks from the pipe. The police believed that Todd had killed his wife in a fit of rage, possibly over a marital dispute, and then staged the accident to cover up his crime. They arrested him three months after the incident and charged him with first-degree intentional homicide.
Todd pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence throughout the trial, which took place in 2017. He said he loved his wife and had no motive to kill her. He also said he was confused and traumatized by the accident, which explained his inconsistent statements. His defense team argued that the pipe accident was possible, and that the police had ignored or manipulated the evidence to fit their theory. They also presented testimonies from Todd’s friends, family, and co-workers, who vouched for his character and his relationship with Barbara. They said they were a devoted and happy couple, who had no signs of trouble or violence in their marriage.
However, the prosecution presented a strong case against Todd, based on the physical, forensic, and circumstantial evidence. They also showed the jury a video of Todd’s police interrogation, where he appeared to be nervous and evasive. They also pointed out the inconsistencies and implausibilities in Todd’s story, and the lack of any witnesses or evidence to support it. They argued that Todd had killed his wife in a secluded spot, and then drove to the road where he staged the accident. They said he had used the pipe to break the windshield from the inside, and then placed it on the passenger seat. They also suggested that Todd had inflicted the injuries on himself to make it look like he was also hurt in the accident.
The jury deliberated for nine hours before finding Todd guilty of first-degree intentional homicide. He was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
The Appeal and the Aftermath of Todd Kendhammer
Todd Kendhammer has not given up on his quest to prove his innocence. He has filed several appeals, claiming that he was denied a fair trial and that his conviction was based on insufficient and unreliable evidence. He has also received support from his children, Jessica and Jordan, who have refused to accept the verdict and have spoken out in his defense. They said they believe their father’s story, and that their parents were very much in love and had no problems in their marriage. They also said they were in a good time in their lives, as they had just welcomed their first grandchild. They have asked for a new trial, where they hope to present new evidence and witnesses that could exonerate their father.
Todd Kendhammer’s case has also attracted the attention of the media and the public, who have expressed different opinions and theories about what happened. Some people have sympathized with Todd and his family, and have questioned the validity and fairness of the investigation and the trial. They have also criticized the media for portraying Todd as a cold-blooded killer, and for ignoring or dismissing the positive aspects of his life and his marriage. Others have condemned Todd for his brutal and cowardly act, and have praised the police and the prosecution for their thorough and professional work. They have also expressed their condolences and support for Barbara and her family, who have suffered a great loss and a terrible injustice.
Todd Kendhammer’s case is not on Wikipedia, but it has been featured on various platforms, such as CBS News’ 48 Hours, where it was titled “Mystery on County Road M”. The episode aired on January 29, 2022, and was reported by correspondent Erin Moriarty. The episode explored the details and the controversies of the case, and interviewed Todd, his children, and other people involved in the case. The episode also showed the footage of the accident scene, the police interrogation, and the trial. The episode raised many questions and doubts about the case, and left the viewers wondering what really happened on that fateful day.