Wisconsin Rapids Man Pleads Not Guilty to Homicide by Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025 -- 1:00 PM

(Karen Madden, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune) Not guilty pleas were entered Sept. 22 to charges related to the death of a 17-year-old girl in a two-vehicle crash Dec. 13 in the village of Auburndale.

According to Karen Madden with the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Trenton D. Lawry, 18, of Wisconsin Rapids, stood mute to charges of homicide by negligent operation of a motor vehicle for the death of Kasey Ramthun, of Vesper, reckless driving causing great bodily harm and injury by negligent use of a weapon.

Wood County Circuit Judge Emily Nolan-Plutchak entered not guilty pleas to the charges. Lawry's attorney, Erika Bierma, waived his right to a preliminary hearing.

A preliminary hearing is when prosecutors have to show there is enough evidence to show a crime probably happened and the defendant probably committed it. Nolan-Plutchak found there was enough evidence to continue the case.

According to the criminal complaint, at 5:40 p.m. Dec. 13, a caller reported a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of U.S. 10 and Wood County P in the village of Auburndale.

Lawry, the driver of one of the vehicles, a 2009 Chevrolet Malibu, was trapped inside. Ramthun, a passenger in the vehicle, was unconscious and bleeding. Paramedics tried to help Ramthun, but she was declared dead at 5:45 p.m., according to the complaint.

The driver of the second vehicle, a 2017 Toyota Highlander, said she was on U. S. 10 heading west, but she didn't know anything else and didn't remember the crash.

The driver of the second vehicle, who had a head and hand injury, was transported to a hospital. A deputy spoke with Lawry, who said "This is my fault, I'm sorry," according to the complaint. Lawry said he "couldn't see the stop sign" and "ran it on accident."

Lawry also was taken to a hospital for medical attention. A witness to the crash called a deputy on Dec. 14. The witness said he was traveling west on U.S. 10 behind the Highlander and saw the Malibu "roll the stop sign" at State 186 and U.S. 10 and accelerate, according to the complaint.

The witness said the Malibu did not stop for the second stop sign and the Highlander hit the Malibu in the passenger's side, according to the complaint. The witness thought the Highlander was going about 70 mph.

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