The murder for hire case involving a Merrill woman came to an end Tuesday morning. Vilas County judge Neal Nielsen III sentenced 33 year old Jessica Strom to 3.5 incarceration in Marathon County Circuit Court. Nielsen further ordered four years of extended supervision for Strom, upon release from prison.
Strom was taken into custody in March, after being accused of attempting to hire a third party to kill her boyfriend, in exchange for $1,000 and sex.
Strom faced an initial charge of Conspiracy to Commit 1st Degree Intentional Homicide. In May, Strom reached a plea deal with the prosecution; pleading guilty to a lesser charge of Solicitation of First Degree Homicide.
Prior to sentencing, the court heard testimony from character witnesses for Strom, including a member of clergy. The court also received a victim impact statement from Strom’s boyfriend; indicating he did not feel his life was in danger and Strom should be re-united with her children.
Following sentencing, Strom was remanded to the custody of the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office. According to court records, she will be transported to the Taycheedah Women’s Correctional Institution in Fond du Lac at a later date.