A town's achiever is suspect in slaying

WEYAUWEGA, Wis. - Gary Hirte, a high school scholar, star athlete and Eagle Scout whose name seemed to be in the local paper all the time, is accused of committing murder - not for money, or revenge, but just to see if he could get away with it.

The Weyauwega-Fremont High senior was charged last month in an arrest that was met with shock and disbelief in this town of 1,800, where Hirte has long been the golden boy. He was accused of killing 37-year-old Glenn Kopitske.

"He wanted to see if he could do this. It was like a challenge for him," sheriff's Capt. Steve Verwiel said. "I would attribute it to arrogance."

Hirte, 18, told friends about the crime, but none took him seriously, authorities said. Finally, five months after the slaying, a girl he once dated went to police because she feared he would commit suicide out of remorse.

Hirte apparently sought out and stalked Kopitske, a substitute teacher who ran unsuccessfully for state Assembly in 2000, authorities said. Verwiel would not say if the two knew each other.

Kopitske was found dead Aug. 2 in his rural house outside Weyauwega. He had been shot in the head, stabbed twice in the back and once in the heart.

The arrest has shaken this community about 90 miles north of Madison, tucked between farm fields and home to a cheese production company, a plastic bag producer and a sawmill.

Hirte was the city's first Eagle Scout in 20 years. He was an honor student and a 6-foot-4, 270-pound member of the track, wrestling and football teams, and has a steady 14-year-old girlfriend. Readers of the town's weekly paper knew all about his achievements.

"This kid had everything going for him," Mayor Howard Quimby said. "He can do anything he sets his mind to."

Hirte's attorneys asked to have the case dismissed Tuesday. Defense attorney Gerald Boyle said Hirte says he was not involved in the murder. Boyle said Hirte will plead not guilty today.

For five months, investigators had been stumped by the slaying. Police didn't look at Hirte as a suspect until a friend, Olivia Thoma, came forward Jan. 1, Verwiel said. According to a police report, Hirte told Thoma about the crime at a county fair a few weeks after the slaying when they agreed to disclose their biggest secrets.

Police recorded a Jan. 28 call between Thoma and Hirte when he described crime details that were not public, Verwiel said.

Police took Hirte into custody at school Jan. 29 and searched his house. His parents "were in disbelief," Verwiel said.

Police found the dead man's keys in Hirte's room and two shotguns in the basement.

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