Brantner charged with drug possession

Berit Beck murder suspect Dennis Brantner appeared in a Fond du Lac courtroom Aug. 14 on new charges — this time for alleged drug possession.

Brantner, 61, is charged with three counts of possession of narcotic drugs (controlled substance) on or near certain places (jail), possession of a controlled substance, possessing an illegally obtained prescription, and five counts of felony bail jumping.

His brother, Michael Brantner, told detectives it’s possible his brother may have been attempting to smuggle the drugs into jail in an attempt to kill himself.

Fond du Lac County Circuit Court Judge Dale English ordered a $50,000 cash bond. Brantner is already being held in Fond du Lac County Jail on a $1 million cash bond for the first-degree murder charge.

According to a new criminal complaint filed on Aug. 14, drugs were found in Brantner’s boot after he was taken into custody on an arrest warrant on March 27 for the murder of Berit Beck. He was taken into custody at the Kenosha County Courthouse and transported to the Fond du Lac County Jail.

Deputies in Fond du Lac found an assortment of 54 pills inside his boot that were identified as the prescription drugs oxycodone, acetaminophen/hydrocodone, cyclobenzaprine and zolpidem.

Brantner tested negative for drugs, the complaint stated, and no prescriptions for the drugs were found.

Detectives interviewed Brantner’s brother, Michael Brantner, on June 24. Michael Brantner stated that Dennis Brantner fled Wisconsin around March 28, 2014, and went to Iowa and that Dennis Brantner texted to his brother: “I’m in a heap of ___.” Micheal Brantner also told detectives, “In my opinion I think he did it,” the complaint stated, and said he urged his brother to come home because leaving Wisconsin made him look like a “fugitive.”

The brother denied providing Dennis Brantner with pills, and said he did not believe his brother would steal pills from him. He showed detectives close to 50 prescription pill bottles to review. He also stated he was told by Dennis Brantner’s attorney, Craig Powell, to refrain from talking about the pills, and stated his brother may have possibly been planning to kill himself.

A preliminary hearing on the drug charges and felony bail jumping charges is set for 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 before Judge Richard Nuss.

The 18-year-old Beck was murdered in July 1990 after she stopped in Fond du Lac while traveling from her home in Sturtevant to Appleton for a work seminar. Her van was discovered in a parking lot at Forest Plaza on West Johnson Street three days after she disappeared. Her body was discovered six weeks later.

Brantner also appeared in Kenosha County Court earlier this week, on Aug. 10, to resolve a felon possessing a firearm charge. He was sentenced to 82 days in jail, with time already served.

A preliminary hearing on the drug charges and felony bail jumping charges is set for 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15 before Judge Richard Nuss.

The 18-year-old Beck was murdered in July 1990 after she stopped in Fond du Lac while traveling from her home in Sturtevant to Appleton for a work seminar. Her van was discovered in a parking lot at Forest Plaza on West Johnson Street three days after she disappeared. Her body was discovered six weeks later.

Brantner also appeared in Kenosha County Court earlier this week, on Aug. 10, to resolve a felon possessing a firearm charge. He was sentenced to 82 days in jail, with time already served.