Mark Jensen’s Retrial, Verdict, and Sentence: The Full Timeline
KENOSHA, Wis.
In January 2023, a new trial began for Mark Jensen of Pleasant Prairie after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ordered his 2008 first-degree intentional homicide conviction vacated. The retrial, the resulting verdict, and the April 2023 sentencing closed out one of Kenosha County’s longest-running homicide prosecutions, a case that began with the 1998 death of Julie Jensen.
This page tracks how the case actually played out, from the original conviction through the second life sentence.
The 1998 Death and the 2008 Conviction
Julie Jensen died in her Pleasant Prairie home in December 1998 from ethylene glycol (antifreeze) poisoning. A Kenosha County jury convicted Mark Jensen of first-degree intentional homicide in 2008, and he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The centerpiece of the original prosecution was a handwritten letter Julie Jensen gave to a neighbor before her death, the “letter from the grave,” in which she wrote that if anything happened to her, her husband should be the prime suspect.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court Reversal
The admissibility of that letter, along with voicemails Julie Jensen left for Pleasant Prairie police, became the legal hinge of the case. The Wisconsin Supreme Court ultimately ruled that admitting the letter violated Mark Jensen’s Sixth Amendment right under the Confrontation Clause, because Julie was not available for cross-examination. The original conviction was vacated and a new trial was ordered. The Kenosha County Circuit Court vacated the sentence and the case was set for retrial.
January 2023: The New Trial Begins, Without the Letter
The retrial opened January 9, 2023 in Kenosha County Circuit Court before Judge Anthony Milisauskas. The most consequential difference from the 2008 trial: the State proceeded without the “letter from the grave” and without the police voicemails. Both were excluded as testimonial hearsay barred by the Confrontation Clause. Prosecutors had to rebuild the case on physical evidence, computer-search history, witness testimony, and the medical record.
For analysis at the time the retrial opened, see TMJ4’s full coverage, including comments from Attorney Patrick Cafferty on how the change in admissible evidence might alter the trajectory of the trial.
February 1, 2023: Second Guilty Verdict
After approximately three weeks of testimony and less than one full day of jury deliberation, the Kenosha County jury returned a unanimous verdict on February 1, 2023, finding Mark Jensen guilty of first-degree intentional homicide. It was the second time a jury had convicted him in connection with Julie Jensen’s death, and the first time without the letter or voicemails in evidence.
April 14, 2023: Life Without Parole, Again
On April 14, 2023, Judge Milisauskas sentenced Mark Jensen to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the same sentence imposed after the 2008 conviction. At sentencing, the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office indicated they expected an appeal of the second conviction, and Mark Jensen himself indicated through counsel that he intended to appeal.
What the Case Means for Wisconsin Defendants
A few takeaways that apply well beyond this one defendant:
- Confrontation Clause challenges are real and they win. A trial conviction that survived nearly a decade and a half on appeal was reversed because of Crawford v. Washington analysis on a single piece of evidence. Defense counsel should be examining every hearsay statement in a State’s case for testimonial-versus-nontestimonial framing.
- A second trial is a different trial. Reopening a closed case after a reversal is not a do-over. The State must rebuild, often with weaker evidence, while the defense has the benefit of seeing exactly how the prior trial played out. The forensic, witness, and procedural attack surface in a retrial is broader than in an original trial.
- A win on appeal is not the end of the matter. Even with the most consequential prosecution evidence excluded, the State retried Jensen and obtained a unanimous conviction. A vacated sentence creates an opportunity, not a guarantee.
For background on the firm’s approach to homicide and complex felony defense, see our criminal defense services and case results pages.
If you, a family member, or someone you know is facing serious felony charges in Racine, Kenosha, Walworth, or Milwaukee County, contact us for a confidential consultation. Call or text (262) 632-5000.