A Jefferson County judge has approved the conditional release of a man who killed Dustin Vander Heyden with a sword 11 years ago, sparking outrage from the victim's family who fear for their safety.

Jefferson County

A Jefferson County judge has ruled that Young Choi, who killed Dustin Vander Hayden with a sword in 2014 and was found not guilty by reason of mental defect, does not pose a significant risk of harm and can be conditionally released from a mental health institution. Choi had previously been denied release due to concerns about public safety, but two recent psychological evaluations supported his suitability for supervised release.

The victim's widow has expressed ongoing fear for her family's safety and believes the release is premature, urging that Choi be closely monitored. Choi's attorney stated that the release will involve supervision, likely in a group home, and the exact conditions will be determined by a judge in January.

Victim's widow outraged after judge approves sword killer's release

Good evening. We begin at six with a victim's family outraged in Jefferson County. This after they learned a man who murdered their loved one 11 years ago will be released back into the community. He's too dangerous. He's very dangerous. We need to protect our community. This is Dustin Vander Hayden's widow. She says she is in so much fear for her safety. She asked us not to share her name. The young choice stabbed and killed Dustin with a sword in an unprovoked attack in 2014 tonight. Lighthouse reporter Ben Jordan spoke with the victim's widow about why she believes the judge made the wrong decision. And choice lawyer explains what led up to the ruling. We miss D so so much pictures take Dustin Vander Hayden's wife back, always smiling at work to her favorite memories of her late husband. Anyone that needed help, he would be there and newspaper clippings remind her of how his life suddenly came to an end. Inside an apartment above this Watertown bar at the hands of their neighbor, this one's toy competent to stand trial. A witness TMJ 4 spoke with in 2014, who was also stabbed by young Choi recalled walking into that apartment, saw man standing over another one, hitting him with a sword like just striking him. The criminal complaints as Dustin died from serious injuries to his back, shoulders and neck. A witness told police choice said I stabbed that expletive Choi pleaded guilty but was found not guilty by mental defect. He was then sent to a mental health institution since 2019. Court records show he's filed six petitions for community release. A Jefferson County judge denied choice to attempts last year, saying Choi continues to be dangerous. That choice was made by a family member who was also dangerous. That changed on Wednesday. Quote, the court cannot find that Mr. Choi would pose a significant risk of bodily harm to himself or to others. Do you think he deserves to be back in the community 11 years later? It's still too. Too early. Why do you feel that way? Who can heal that quick? There are other victims out there. You know, can you imagine what they're going through? I reached out to choice attorney. Has Mr Choi shared any remorse for what happened back in 2014? Absolutely, he is absolutely expressed remorse. Nick Gansner agreed to do an interview. Some people question how you could go from being considered a danger to the community 10 months ago to having that all change now. Sure, I think that's a reasonable question. On this occasion we actually had two evaluations done on both of those licensed psychologists concluded that Mr Choi was appropriate. For conditional release under Wisconsin's criminal justice system, if Choi had been found mentally competent and guilty of first degree intentional homicide as charged, he would have spent at least 20 years in prison, but since Choi was found not guilty by mental defect, Gansner says there's no minimum amount of time he has to be kept in a mental institution. Now, that does not mean he's going to simply walk out into the world and be unsupervised. Far from it. Gansner says what that will look like is going to be determined by a judge in January. He is almost very likely to be living in some kind of supervised group home or group situation. Dustin's widow says she still worries for her family safety. They better be on like a fly to a fly trap stick and therefore wants Choi to be monitored at all times. I just don't need anyone else injured or hurt reporting in Watertown. Ben Jordan TMJ 4 news.

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