Son faces homicide charge in presumed father’s death

Authorities recover buried body they believe is Brian Helgeson

JACKSON COUNTY, Wis. — The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office says they found a body they believe is Brian Helgeson, the man who has been missing for more than a week, buried in a wooded area on the family’s property in the Township of Hixton.

Authorities arrested Lars Helgeson, Brian’s 20-year-old son Wednesday night. He now faces a first degree intentional homicide charge.

On Monday, another son of Brian contacted police because they hadn’t heard from him for more than a week and they weren’t able to get a hold of him.

On Wednesday afternoon, authorities believe they spotted Lars running from a stolen vehicle near CTH P and Lincoln Road in the Springfield Township in Jackson County. Authorities from the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s office, the Blair Police Department, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the Wisconsin Department of Justice helped search that area.

A local farmer told the Sheriff’s Office that he found what he believed to be a juvenile in the area of Lowes Creek Road and Green Acres Road. Lars was spotted with his hands raised in the air. He was unarmed and was arrested without incident.

Investigators later developed information that Lars Helgeson had shot and killed his father and that he had buried his father’s body on the farm property. Law enforcement found the body around 6 p.m. after locating recently disturbed dirt and heavy earth moving equipment was summoned to the scene.

Authorities have not been able to identify the body yet because they believe he was there for 10-11 days. They are awaiting autopsy results.

The Sheriff’s Office would not comment on Lars’ mental stability, but they had said earlier in the investigation that he was possibly mentally unstable.

Lars also faces a theft charge. Lars’ court date has not been set yet.