Posted Friday, August 22, 2008 -- 5:15 pm
By Zac Schultz

Edgerton: A local mother says police failed her daughter and the man who killed her.

Jenny and Shaun Vordermann were found dead in their Edgerton home Monday morning, and Jenny's mom says it could have been prevented.

"Me and Jenny were very, very close," says Tina Pond. She lost her daughter and a friend when Jenny Vordermann was shot and killed by her husband Shaun, who then killed himself.

Tina says Jenny was leaving Shaun, and he repeatedly threatened suicide. Last Saturday he sent text messages to Jenny's family members, demanding to know where she was, and describing how he had built a bonfire and was burning Jenny's stuff.

"Just started tossing her stuff in, shoes go up rather fast," reads one. The messages also contained threats. "Her phone on? You talk to her? Click, click boom. All cause she won't answer her phone. Was good to know you all. Much love and peace out. Don't feel bad."

Jenny called 911 before she went home Saturday night. "My husband keeps calling me, and he's telling me he's going to kill himself and all this crazy stuff. I'm not there because I'm afraid to go there."

Edgerton Police took Shaun Vordermann to the Rock County Health Care Center for a mental evaluation.

Tina says Jenny was told Shaun would be committed and she would have plenty of time to move out. But Tina was on the phone with Jenny when Shaun showed up at 9 o clock Sunday morning.

Tina says Shaun took Jenny's keys and her car, and found his gun in the trunk of her car.

People have asked why she didn't get Jenny out that night, but Tina says they didn't think Shaun would kill her. "This happened so many times. It's just another Shaun saying, ha ha Jenny I got your keys you can't go nowhere."

Shaun and Jenny were found in their bedroom the next morning.

Tina wants to know why Shaun was released so soon, and why police didn't keep the gun, but she says Rock County and Edgerton Police won't return her calls. "I really feel that they failed Shaun. I don't think they just failed Jenny, I think they failed Shaun."

The Rock County Health Care Center has declined comment in this case. Edgerton Police Chief Tom Klubertanz will only say he supports the actions of his officers.

Friends of the family have set up a fund to help the family with funeral costs. To donate contact Chase Bank in Madison or Edgerton.

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UPDATED Tuesday, August 19, 2008 --- 9:55 a.m.

EDGERTON, Wis. (AP) -- Edgerton police say the man who killed his wife before taking his own life had been taken by police to a health center after threatening suicide two days before the deaths.

Chief Tom Klubertanz says police escorted Shaun Vordermann to the Rock County Health Center Saturday night after Vordermann's wife, Jennifer, called for help because of his threats.

Jennifer Vordermann's aunt, Julie Ellingson, says Shaun Vordermann was released from the medical center after midnight on Sunday morning. Ellingson says that was much too soon.

Ellingson says the family wants answers from health care professionals about efforts taken to help Shaun Vordermann before he was released early Sunday.

Police say Shaun Vordermann killed his wife and then himself. Their bodies were discovered Monday morning.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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UPDATED Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 5:40pm

From the Rock County Coroner's Office:

Shaun and Jennifer Vordermann, ages 25 and 24, of Edgerton, were found deceased in their home on the morning of August 18th.

Dr Huntington will perform both autopsies at the VA Hospital on Tuesday, August 19. The cause and manner of death is still under investigation by the Rock County Coroner’s Office.

No additional details will be released at this time.

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UPDATED Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 3:20 p.m.

EDGERTON, Wis. (AP) -- Investigators in Edgerton are probing an apparent murder-suicide.

Police Chief Tom Klubertanz says officers went to house around 8 a.m. Monday. They found the bodies of Shaun Vordermann and his wife, Jennifer Vordermann, in the home. Both apparently died from gunshot wounds.

Klubertanz says the couple were in their early 20s and had recently married. He did not have their precise ages.

Investigators are still looking into what may have caused the incident, who may have fired first and when the shootings took place.

Autopsies are scheduled for tomorrow. Klubertanz says the couple had no children.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 1:50 p.m.

Confirmed by Edgerton Police Chief: Murder-Suicide as a result of gunshot wounds.

They were found in the bedroom. One gun was recovered, no word on which one was the shooter.

There have been prior contacts with police, but never domestic issues.

The call for Saturday night was a medical call.

One person was transported to Rock County Health Care Center.

NBC 15's Zac Schultz is following this story. His report will be on NBC 15 News at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.

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UPDATED Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 1:45 p.m.

EDGERTON, Wis. (AP) -- Investigators are probing how two people ended up dead in a house in Edgerton.

According to The Janesville Gazette, police discovered the bodies this morning. Officers went to the house a little after 8 a.m. to check on the welfare of a person there.

Police called the Rock County Humane Society to pick up two bulldogs in the home's backyard.

Authorities did not release the people's names, cause of death or other details to the newspaper.

Messages The Associated Press left at the Edgerton Police Department and the Rock County Coroner's office weren't immediately returned.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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Monday, August 18, 2008 --- 11:35 a.m.

According to the WSJ:

Little information was being released this morning in connection with the discovery of two bodies in an Edgerton home at 39 Milfred Avenue shortly after 8 a.m. Staff from the Rock County Sheriff's Office, Edgerton police and the Rock County Coroner's Office were at the scene, according to the Janesville Gazette.

At the Edgerton police department, calls were referred to Chief Tom Klubertanz, who was at the scene on the city's west side, about a mile from Interstate 39-90, off Highway 59.