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     On April 16, 2024 Logan Barclay lured the mother of his child to Peace Trail in Janesville, where he shot her once in the abdomen and left her for dead. Today, he was sentenced to life in prison. He will not be eligible for parole until 2075, the year he turns 73.

     District Attorney Jason Sanders argued for a lifetime sentence without any eligibility for parole. In his sentencing argument, Sanders highlighted that this killing was Barclay’s calculated plan, luring his child’s mother to a secluded dirt trail so he could shoot her, take her cell phone, and leave her to die. Sanders played portions of Barclay’s interview with detectives, demonstrating his ability to lie convincingly, and argued that Barclay was like a ”dungeon master” – from the game Dungeons & Dragons, which Barclay enjoyed – saying Barclay “set up everything, the entire game, and nobody else knew they were playing.”

     Barclay’s defense attorney argued that he was 22-years-old with no criminal record and diagnosed treatment needs, and should have a chance at parole “someday.” The victim’s mother read a compelling statement to the judge before sentencing, in which she empathized with and appreciated Barclay’s parents, but also told Barclay that he is a “pathological liar” and telling him to “rot in hell.”
     “Some crimes are so heinous that the State must not make any concessions. It is our job to fight for the victim, their family, and the community as a whole,” said Sanders, “and I’m proud of our work. I am especially thankful for the excellent, empathetic work of Kim Rau, helping the victim’s family through the court process, and the grieving process.”

     Assistant District Attorney Alex Goulart, who co-prosecuted the case with Sanders, added that he was extremely grateful to the Janesville Police Department. “Starting a First Degree Intentional Homicide investigation 48 hours after the body is discovered and obtaining the evidence necessary – including Barclay’s confession – is nothing short of incredible,” he said. “It’s never easy to solve a case like this, but especially here where the Janesville Police Department had to wait to identify the victim, and wait for confirmation that it was a homicide.” Both prosecutors praised the Janesville Police Department – and most especially Detectives Dan Schoonover, Thomas Bechen, and Justin Stubbendick – for their tremendous work in solving this case.

Contact: Jason Sanders, Rock County District Attorney RockDA_Admin@da.wi.gov