Man, William Joseph Dankesreiter Jr. Accused of Plotting Wife's Death with Basement Tripwire Faces Trial

A Pennsylvania man is currently on trial, facing allegations that he attempted to kill his wife by setting up a tripwire that could have led to her fatal fall in their home. 

The trial of 63-year-old William Joseph Dankesreiter Jr. began this week in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. Prosecutors claim that in 2020, he tried to cause his wife's death by forcing her to fall down the basement stairs in their Derry Township home, located approximately 100 miles west of Philadelphia.

According to court documents cited by PennLive, Laura Dankesreiter recounted that on October 2, 2020, as she was heading to the basement to retrieve something from the freezer for breakfast, she stumbled on an object. She managed to catch herself before tumbling down the wooden staircase and noticed a piece of fishing line attached to the walls, with two metal hooks positioned about three inches above the carpet.

Prosecutors plan to present evidence related to the unraveling of the Dankesreiters' marriage. 

Witnesses are expected to testify that William Dankesreiter, also known as B.J., was allegedly involved in a relationship with another woman. During opening statements, prosecutors asserted that his personal satisfaction took precedence over his wife's well-being.

Additionally, prosecutors allege that Joseph Dankesreiter devised a plan to kill his wife in order to collect a $300,000 life insurance policy.

On the other hand, the defense aims to cast doubt on Laura Dankesreiter's credibility. They argue that she provided the evidence that led to her husband's arrest, and the police unquestioningly accepted it. The defense also plans to challenge the evidence of the alleged affair, suggesting that it may be a fabrication by Laura Dankesreiter.

Dankesreiter faces charges of attempted criminal homicide, assault, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement described the case as one of the most peculiar alleged attempted murders they had encountered. Trooper Stephen Limani mentioned that had she fallen, there were about 10 steps leading to a small landing area, as reported by Pittsburgh CBS affiliate KDKA.

Meanwhile in California, a 26-year-old woman embarked on a chaotic car chase that left a trail of crashed squad cars and uprooted trees before she abandoned her vehicle in the midst of a bustling highway. See detailed story here.

[SOURCE]