Bail set for man accused of staging girlfriend’s suicide

Cash bond for Rio man set at $450,000

PORTAGE, Wis. — The man accused of staging his girlfriend’s death to look like a suicide was in court Monday.

Cash bond has been set at $450,000 for 46-year-old Patrick Kraemer, who is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the April 2013 death of Traci Rataczak.

Rataczak was found dead in her Wyocena home. Kraemer said she died by suicide, but police said they later learned the hanging appeared to be a staged crime, and that she was placed there after her death.

Kraemer never reported Rataczak missing and he remained in their shared house until a friend discovered her body on April 8, according to a release.

A criminal complaint states that Rataczak had told friends that Kraemer had been abusive to her and they had been arguing and physically fighting.