Dennis Klingbeil

A Wapiti man who stands accused of murdering his wife last summer is set to plead his case to a jury in Park County’s District Court next week.

Dennis K. Klingbeil, 77, is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 5, 2018, killing of his wife, 75-year-old Donna Klingbeil.

Dennis Klingbeil has said he “accidentally” shot his wife in the head. Prosecutors with the Park County Attorney’s Office, however, have alleged Klingbeil killed Donna Klingbeil “purposefully and with premeditated malice” amid a dispute over how to split up the millions of dollars in assets that the couple owned together.

It’s believed to be the first murder case to go to trial in Park County since 2002 and the first criminal trial of any kind in roughly a year.

In a filing last week, Dennis Klingbeil’s defense attorneys said the trial “should not take more than five days.” More than 20 witnesses are expected to testify about various aspects of the case and the evidence.

The jury selection process, known as voir dire, is scheduled to start at 9 a.m. Monday at the Park County Courthouse. That’s when District Court Judge Bill Simpson and attorneys for the prosecution and defense will look to seat 14 people in the jury box: 12 jurors and two alternates.

A total of 85 Park County residents were called for jury duty, though due to prior commitments, health issues and other factors, the jury pool had dwindled to about 66 people as of Tuesday, said Clerk of District Court Patra Lindenthal.

Former Natrona County District Attorney Mike Blonigen — brought on as a special deputy Park County prosecuting attorney for this particular case — is set to handle the prosecution for the state. Klingbeil is being defended by Donna Domonkos of Cheyenne and Rives White of Cody.

— By CJ Baker