A Glendale man and his son have been found guilty of poisoning a Dodgeville relative

Claudia Levens
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

An Iowa County jury found a father and son guilty of homicide in connection to a 2021 Dodgeville murder, according to a Thursday release from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

The jury found Aric Way, 51, of Glendale, and Philip Schmidt-Way, 28, of Loveland, Colorado, guilty of first-degree intentional homicide for poisoning and killing the victim — Way’s mother and Schmidt-Way’s grandmother.

Before her death, the victim had agreed to sell the family farm, which Schmidt-Way was set to inherit upon the victim’s death, according to the criminal complaint.

On July 19, 2021, the victim was found dead in her Dodgeville home.

An autopsy determined carbon monoxide poisoning to be a contributing factor to the cause of death. The complaint states there were no apparent sources to explain elevated levels of carbon monoxide in the home.

Way had purchased sulfuric acid and formic acid, which are known to react together to create carbon monoxide. Schmidt-Way’s vehicle was seen on camera at the victim’s home on the night of her death, according to the complaint.

Several agencies investigated the case, including the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office and DCI, with assistance from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Dodgeville EMS and Fire, Northern Colorado Drug Task Force, UW Hospital, Glendale Police Department and the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

“The convictions in this complex homicide case were possible because of the diligent work of those who investigated and prosecuted this case,” Attorney General Josh Kaul said in the release. “Thank you to everyone who helped hold the defendants accountable for this terrible crime.”

Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.