Man Faces Charges in Fatal Motorcycle Crash
Man Faces Charges in Fatal Motorcycle Crash Save Email Print
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A man charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle made his first court appearance Thursday.

29-year-old Michael Fenolio appeared in a Dane County courtroom Thursday afternoon.

He faces charges in connection with a crash last month near Cottage Grove Road.

50 year old motorcyclist Michael Jurgens was killed.

Fenolio faces eight charges, including homicide by drunken driving.

He's jailed on $45,000 bail.

This is Fenolio's 5th OWI charge.

(The Associated Press contributed to this story.)
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Posted by: Mikes only family member Location: michigan on Mar 25, 2009 at 02:45 AM
First of all Mike came from an abusive home. His father died when he was 14, his mother committed suicide when he was 18. Both parents were alcoholics that physically and mentally abused him and his younger brother from the moment they stepped foot into this world. I'm not by any means making excuses for his actions, however, this man had no chance for a socially acceptable life. Has anyone even thought for a moment why nobody has wrote in his defense? Everyone quoted on how his "family" should feel, yet know body from is "family" left comments in his defense... It's because he has no family or support. Only " so-called friend" support
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Town of Burke on Sep 16, 2007 at 11:19 PM
John- I'm so sorry for your loss & I can't imagine the pain you are going through. I'd like to comment on your post, regarding Mike's subsequent arrest in McFarland. I know on paper it looks really bad that he was arrested after the accident that killed your brother, not the kind of repentence you respect, I know, but it is quite the contrary...From the night of the accident up until that last arrest, Mike was a mess. He couldn't sleep, nightmares of the accident haunted him, he didn't want to live with himself, his guilt over your brother's death consumed him. He wanted to die himself. These feelings took him over. So many terrible emotions led to that final arrest. That night he did not drive and was arrested at home. It was a calapse of emotions. Those of us who know Mike, know that he is extremely sorry, & his remorse did not start after he went jail, it started the night of the accident & never let go of him. Again I am so sorry for your loss & sorry someone I love is responsible.
Posted by: Kallie Location: Minocqua, WI on Sep 16, 2007 at 07:26 PM
If it's okay with the judge and your attorney, it's all right with me. Instead of it being public, why don't you get my address and John's and Chuck's (Chuck also lives in Minocqua) and write it privately; no need for the whole world to know. I know what the judge said but he might be willing to change his mind once he knows Mike's motives.
Posted by: Michelle on Sep 16, 2007 at 10:54 AM
and he. However he was told at his last court apperance that he is to have NO contact with your family so while my posting to you is not him contacting you directly, before I can post I need to make sure that it is ok with our attorney.
Posted by: Michelle on Sep 16, 2007 at 10:50 AM
Look I am not going to go back and forth with this anymore. Mike does feel bad plain and simple while I know his/our pain is different, the fact of the matter is he is in jail, waiting and waiting to finish out the court proceedings so that maybe he can start to put his own life back together. I know that your family is hurt right now and I get that. I have also read the the police reconstruction of the accident if we agreed with everything the police had to say about that night this would be a cut and dry case. So yes the evidence may be clear and overwhelming but everything you are seeing is not correct. I am not blaming your family for being angry as you implied, yes I too would be angry for a while. I am upset about the name calling and the implications that this was not an accident. It was an ACCIDENT a horrible tragic accident. I am so sorry for the loss that your family is feeling. And to Kallie I know I told you in an earlier statment that mike wanted to write you a statement,
Posted by: John Location: Elkhorn on Sep 14, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Michelle, you might lose Mike F for a while while he pays for the murder, but I will never get a chance to talk to my friend and brother again. I read the State Police reconstrction of the accident, I guess all I can tell you is, the evidnce is clear and overwhelming. And I am as mad as you would be if I would have killed your fiance. So dont blame me for being angry. Im not really ready to embrace a 4 time convicted OWI. I can only hope that this was his "HIT Bottom", but his subsequent arrest by McFarland Police for being drunk is not the kind of evidence of repentence I would have respected, it just fuels the fire. I would love to meet Mike and let him tell me how much he hurts, because he needs to SEE my pain also.
Posted by: Becky Location: Upland, Ca on Sep 14, 2007 at 02:55 PM
I just want to reiterate everything my Grandmother wrote, going on this way will only cause more pain. We must let the anger go and look at the bigger picture, this incident hurt two families and the only way to get past it is to forgive, and give the rest to God. This whole situation is tearing me up and I don't want to be angry anymore and for my own sanity I must move on.
Posted by: Chuck Location: Minocqua on Sep 14, 2007 at 09:12 AM
You know what? I may not have all the facts, but the fact is is that Fenoleo was driving drunk and killed someone.....my brother Michael. I say we put Fenoleo on a motorcycle and see how it feels to be killed by a five time drunk driver. FACE IT... HE NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING. YOU KNOW IT AND I KNOW IT. PERIOD. FINAL. THE COURTS IN WISCONSIN ARE WAY TOO LENIENT ON DRUNK DRIVERS. I HOPE FENOLEO GETS WHAT HE DESERVES.......A LONG JAIL SENTENCE. I WILL BE THERE FOR THE SENTENCING AND BELIEVE ME, YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.
Posted by: Michelle Location: Madison on Sep 13, 2007 at 07:52 PM
Thank you Kallie. Thank you very much! Mike plans to write a statement to you guys once I get it I will post it. It means a lot to our entire family.
Posted by: enough is enough Location: Madison on Sep 13, 2007 at 05:57 PM
No one is asking your family to side OR sympathize with him...We are just asking that the "Monster", "Murderer", "Punk", comments end. This is a human being, who made a grave mistake - Jesus Christ......Their posts are only making them look bad. Express your hurt over your loss without the name calling and callous comments - Not to mention the hurtful comments like "where was his family? and why didn't they stop him?" Well what's left of his family is right here, helping him get through this. We are hurting for him and with him - AND in the same regard - we are extremely sorry for the loss of Michael - you will never know how sorry. And it breaks my heart that the one responsible is someone we are close to and Love very much.
Posted by: Kallie Location: Minocqua on Sep 13, 2007 at 05:13 PM
I'm Michael Jurgens' mom and can I please calm everybody down and say that I don't believe that Mike Fenolio did this on purpose; he made a bad choice and has to live with it. We all have to get on with the rest of our lives and I want Michelle to tell Michael that I forgive him as God has forgiven us all and if I upset anybody else by saying this, I'm sorry but -- I can't go on hating or being angry any more. I will pray that Mike Fenolio does the right thing and talks to his priest/pastor and asks God for forgiveness because it's only right that this ends now. Let's all stop the moaning and groaning; it's not going to bring my son back as much as we loved him. Please think about it, will you and look at it my way? Hatred and anger only begets more of the same and if you want to get on with the rest of your life, you must forgive, no matter how hard you think it is.
Posted by: cindy Location: Fort Pierce on Sep 13, 2007 at 04:59 PM
I have a message for you mike's supposed girlfriend actions speak for its self. As for you what if he had one of your children in the car and he crashed and killed one of your kids. you would be in the same vote as myself and my family. And why when you comment you leave youself anonymous but always give yourself away. after all he has gotten away scott free with his other convictions. and now you think hes a saint. Listen to this Girly I DONT THINK SO not this time. So wake up and smell the roses if he loved you and his children would of tried to clean his life up for you and your childrens sake. so dont ask me what kind of person I am i know. think about what kind of person you have choosen to be with. That some day you have to tell your children that there father a murderer. maybe one day i hope you will realize and not hide the truth from your self.
Posted by: Becky Location: Upland, Ca on Sep 13, 2007 at 04:09 PM
You know, all this yelling back in forth is not going to do any good. Everyone's hurting, on both sides of this. We will all have to live with what happened for the rest of our lives. Fenolio will have to live with the fact that he took another mans life. My Father's gone, nothings going to change that. I don't think Fenolio is a monster, I think he was being just plain stupid and careless. I don't think you would be ashamed if the tables were turned, I think you'd be just as angry. Think about it for a minute and then tell me if a 5 time drunk driver killed someone in your family how would you feel, I doubt you would be jumping to the killers side and sympathizing with him.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 13, 2007 at 03:12 PM
cont... ABOUT MY FIANCE. I WILL BITE MY TOUNGE NO LONGER. PLAIN AND SIMPLE HE FEELS AWFUL ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT.
Posted by: MICHELLE Location: MADISON on Sep 13, 2007 at 03:08 PM
ALL YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE DOING IS MAKING ASSUMPTIONS NONE OF YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED THAT NIGHT. MIKE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO REALLY KNOWS WHAT HAPPENED AND YOU WILL BE PROVEN WRONG SOON ENOUGH. HE DIDN'T WANT THE ATTENTION HE WOULD GET FROM THAT ACCIDENT ARE YOU KIDING ME? YOU ARE A AWFULLY COLD HEARTED PERSON TO EVEN IMPLY SUCH A THING. MIKE HAS HAD NIGHTMARES EVERY SINGLE NIGHT SINCE THAT ACCIDENT,HE IS LUCKY IF HE GETS 3 HOURS OF SLEEP IN AN ENTIRE NIGHT. I WOULD KNOW I LIVE WITH MIKE. I HAVE NEVER POSTED HERE BEFORE BUT I AM SICK AND TIRED OF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY MAKING HIM OUT TO BE A MONSTER. THIS WAS AN ACCIDENT DO YOU HEAR ME A HORRIBLE TRAGIC ACCIDENT. WHILE I AM SORRY FOR THE PAIN HE HAS CAUSED YOU, WOULD YOU BROTHER REALLY WANT HIS FAMILY TO TREAT MIKE IN THIS WAY? I WOULD BE ASHAMED IF YOU WERE MY FAMILY. OUR FAMILY HAS NOT BEEN POSTING HERE WE DON'T WANT TO CAUSE YOU ANYMORE PAIN THEN YOUR ALREADY EXPERENCING BUT AFTER READING ALL THE HORRIBLE THINGS THAT YOU THINK YOU KNOW
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 13, 2007 at 02:54 PM
CINDY YOU DON'T KNOW A THING ABOUT MIKE HOW DARE YOU EVEN REMOTELY IMPLY HE WAS DOING THIS FOR ATTENTION. IT WAS AN ACCIDENT YOU HEAR ME ACCIDENT !!!!!!!!!!! HE WOULD NOT AND DID NOT INTENTIONALLY HARM ANYONE
Posted by: Anonymous Location: madison on Sep 13, 2007 at 01:10 PM
Cindy, you say Mike killed your brother for attention? What kind of person are you? If that were the case, he would have left the scene & the whole state would be looking for him. But he stayed, called 911 not once but TWICE, because they were taking too long, got down on the ground and held YOUR BROTHER in HIS ARMS til help arrived. Does that sound like a PUNK that doesn't care who he destroys? That night haunts him every minute of every day. You say what goes around comes around, how can you WISH pain on another? His has already came around. He lost both his parents to death, and was stabbed repeatedly, left to die after the perp fled the scene. You say you don't have pity for him, well I PITY YOU. Your post is pure evil. God help you. It is possible to find forgiveness, w/out compromissing the feelings for your pain. You will never really know how remorseful Mike is. I pray for both sides - especially children - no matter what age. I am so sorry your brother died. Life is so unfair.
Posted by: Cindy Location: Fort Pierce on Sep 12, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Now its my turn i want to say to you Fenolio three things. Nobody forced you to take a drink and drive the night you killed my brother.NO 2 you can sit in a jail cell with 45,000 bail when my brother is 6 feet under. No 3 you have left my Family Under severe emotional destress not to mention my four nephews and my niece with a father. As far as im concerned I think You are a punk that just wanted attention and doesn't care who he destoys in his path. I have no pitty for you and believe me what comes around go's around.
Posted by: Becky Location: Upland, Ca on Sep 12, 2007 at 03:20 PM
Jessica, I just hope everyone can heal and get past this horrible tradegy, I know that he didn't intenionally kill my Father, and I sure he regrets getting in the car that night. I can only pray that this will be a learning experience for others about the dangers involved with getting into a car impaired. Just be a little patient with my family, they've been through so much, this is not the first tradegy of this kind to hit our family. Hopefully you can understand where the anger comes from and just like everything, it will pass, its just part of the grieving process. I'm sure he does care for his children deeply, I too have 3 small children and can only imagine what this will do to them. I know for a fact that if he were to show remorse and seek forgiveness, it would be given. But we also want to see justice done. Personally I don't want to see anybody end their own life.
Posted by: Jessica Location: Does It really matter? on Sep 12, 2007 at 11:38 AM
CONT..... but Mike too has a family and 3 little girls to boot.... Your family has said he didn't care about his kids or fiancee because he choose to drink and drive but thats not true he just made a BAD CHOICE that evening. It hurts me that your family acts as though he has no remorse for the part he played in that accident when he does. He feels very bad for what happened. If it weren't for his children and loving fiancee he would have probably killed himself after that accident that is how awful he felt. I am not a part of his family I am avery close family friend, I Know all of this first hand and I also know that MIKE F's family HAS NOT BEEN POSTING ON THIS WEB PAGE. They are dealing with their own grief they wouldn't intentionally add to yours. This was a horrible accident for both family's involved your both suffering just in different ways.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 12, 2007 at 11:28 AM
Becky I can sympathize with you and I do understand how you feel I can't imagine loosing my father in such a horrible way. It was NOT mike's choice to pleed not guilty if you knew anything about the court system you would know that is an automatic for the first court appearance, nobody is asking you the family to take pitty on him. The DA's office has to prove that mike did the things that they are alleging he did. That is the way our justice system works. I know Mike personally I know how he feels about this accident I know that he feels awfull about what happened that night and that he has been having nightmares ever since the accident. I am in no way trying to defend his actions in this Horrible tragity however, he needs to look out for his best interst here to and what is going to help to reabilitate him, because the bottom line is he has a family too. I know the pain were feeling nowhere near compair's to the pain your family feel's
Posted by: Becky Location: Upland, Ca on Sep 11, 2007 at 03:22 PM
What most of you don't understand is that Fenolio was a REPEAT offender, he knew if he got into that car drunk he could kill someone. Well guess what, he did. My father has not led a perfect life, but show me someone who has. What does my Uncle's life have to do with any of this. This is a cut and dry case, he killed someone, he should pay. He should step up to the plate, say, "I did this" and being willing to accept the consequences. How dare him plead not guilty, he's a coward. I do sympathize for his family, but I don't feel the courts should give him a light sentence because he has children. So did my Father, and Grandchildren. Its up to Fenolio to seek forgiveness, it is never just given away, it has to be earned.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 11, 2007 at 11:15 AM
OK John We will give you that one Mike F. Has made many mistakes in his life. But you comment on how he didnt take pitty on Ira's family when he had him sent to prison for 25 years. That is a very different situation Ira's stabbed Mike repeatedly in the gut INTENTIONALLY might i add and left him to die. Mike did not leave your brother he sat there with him holding his head untill the paramedics arrived and he is the one who called 911 not once but twice. Now if this was an intentional act would he really have done everything in his power to save your brother? Yes if he was infact drinking and driving and it turns out this accident was HIS fault he will pay for his choices that evening. Our family's sitting here going back and forth about this won't make any of this better unfortunitly we can't change what happened that night all we can do is try to move forward with our lives. Mike is not "hideing behind his lawyer" as some have implied.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: hoping for forgiveness, WI on Sep 10, 2007 at 11:09 PM
so, John - you admit that your brother had to "turn his life around" When exactly did he do that? Mike F. is 29, all we can do is hope that maybe he will still have a chance to do the same....
Posted by: John Location: Elkhorn on Sep 10, 2007 at 06:18 PM
Number one, this was no accident. When you flip the bird to society on four previous DUIs, you dont love your children, fiance, or any family, you love yourself. When Fenolio didnt get what he wanted in the past, he used armed robbery to take it. He drove with no license, no insurence, and no remorse. Mike Jurgens turned his life around, so quit minimizing his life. He was innocent. Where were all of you Fenilio supporters when he was getting all those duis and jumping bail. He must have lost alot of money he could have given to his children. Than you have to bring other peoples court records to the debate, to justify the guilty. You than sign Anonymous. Lets see your name and records here! Look up mine and post it here, Im Jurgens brother also. What did you find?? Let Michael Fenolio stand up and be a man for once, and take responsability for his actions. Than forgivness may not be far behind.(God help us all)
Posted by: TIA Location: Stoughton WI on Sep 10, 2007 at 03:32 PM
There is a grave lessoned to be learned here. Dont drink and drive bottom line plain and simple this kind of thing could happen to any one of us at anytime. Weather you have one beer or five beers. I know the man that was driving the car that night very well and i dont condone his actions in this accident. I dont believe he should be put in jail for the rest of his life he obivously has some very serious drinking issues that need to be addressed by a treatment agency not prison. I hope that if he is guilty of what they say he did here that he apologizes to the family of the decesed and they can find it in their hearts to someday forgive him for I know for a fact that this is was not a intentional act on his part. Mike is very remorseful for this accident and weather the other michael's family wants to believe it or not he feels AWFUL for what happened in this accident. He Would have never caused harm to an innocent person intentionally.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 10, 2007 at 08:57 AM
Is it only ok to break the law if you don't kill someone? Why is it ok for people to have drug charges? Because he didn't kill anyone while he was getting high? Or get caught driving while getting high? You can't tell me Jurgens never drove while he was getting high. Luckily he didn't kill anyone back then. Or how about his brother when he continued to drive 3 times without a licence. People who live in glass houses, shouldn't throw stones. This is a terrible tragedy that could have happened to any one of us. My thoughts and prayers go out to BOTH families also. I pray Fenolio will learn his lesson and have god speed while he serves his time. I pray that the Jurgerns family can get through their terrible loss and that they find forgiveness. I think Michael Jurgens would. I too am posting as anonymous, but have NOT posted before. Given the anger of the family, I think it's best that way.
Posted by: Mom Location: WI on Sep 9, 2007 at 11:23 PM
The victim is dead; he didn't do anything to deserve being killed like this and what difference does it make if he had a record or not; he's not the one who drove drunk. And anyway his record only extended to 2003 including the divorce. He had a very profitable plant business of his own until 9/11/01 and then the bottom dropped out. If you knew anything about his physical condition, you would know about the charges that were all settled/probation was forgiven and he got on with his life. The last couple of years of his life were very hard on him and his boys. So don't judge my son Michael Jurgens; he finally had a lot to live for and was struck down in the prime of his life. End of discussion.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 9, 2007 at 10:00 AM
I once again would like to comment on how YOU AT NBC are only posting negative statements about the car driver NOT THE TRUTH about MOTORCYCLIST. I would like to know how a man with 10-15 small claims lawsuits againts him not to mention his drug charges was really helping support his kids? I think the family is just trying to make him out to be saint when is IS NOT ONE.... I tried to post his criminal record but of course NBC didn't let that one go through. Maybe u the family can then or will be made to. We are trying to make it ouver to her before it gets too late
Posted by: Mevis Location: Madison on Sep 9, 2007 at 12:45 AM
I feel so bad for the families on both sides, if i didn't know the driver of the car i might not have as much sypathy but i do. He is a kind hearted man who took another man's life ACCIDENTALLY. He will live with those memories for the rest of his life. People make mistakes yes he is on his 5th dui so obviously he didn't learn after the first some people dont. Sometimes it takes something big to learn from which is unfortinate. I am one who is guilty of not learning the first time, some of us are lucky and never have to go thru something this horrible. Nobody is perfect. Maybe some day the family of the deseased will be able to forgive the driver because he to suffers as well as the family and friends of the deseased. My prayers go out to both families because it is not just one family that suffers they both do just in different ways.
Posted by: Mike Location: Madison` on Sep 8, 2007 at 10:39 PM
First, I would just like to address all the anonymous commentors out there - Use your names. It is easy to hide and make sarcastic comments about how others are acting when you won't put your own name out there to be addressed directly! Second, to one of the anonymouses, most 12 step program say the first step is to admit you have a problem, not that the state should tell you, so he is still ultimately responsible, not the court for "not ordering him" one of the other four times. And I could care less if he loves his fiancee or kids. His being in jail keeps him driving drunk a mile from where I live! I see, he can murder anyone not in his family! I really don't want to join his family, as great as you all make it sound, so I see it as self protection if he goes away forever. They can love him through the bars, and he can write to them, and raise a family the way our troops are raising their families, while stationed all over the world, right "Proud to be an American"?
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2007 at 07:24 PM
TO you S from CP: Fenolio WOULD NEVER I REPEAT NEVER DO ANYTHING TO HARM HIS KIDS EVER!!!!!!! Those kids mean the world to him the are his whole world as really has no living family to speak of. I have known Mike Fenolio for years and while I don't condone drinking and driving I know for a fact that this was not an intentional act on his part and I know he is VERY remorseful for the family of the man that died in this crash. Mike would not wish the death of a family member upon anyone as he knows too well from personal experience how painful it is to loose a someone, especially a parent as both of his passed away some years ago. He is not a bad man he just made some bad choices in his life.
Posted by: John Location: Elkhorn on Sep 8, 2007 at 05:07 PM
Ill give you a chance to tell me that to my face,you cowards who post Anonymous. He takes away my best friend and all your pity goes to his family. The toxacolgy report and the State Police Reconstruction of the accident all said Jurgens had no drugs or booze, and had no fault in the murder. As far as Fenolio, Id love to spit some beehnut in that dudes eye. Speaking of CCAP, what did Fenolio spend 5 years in prison for prior to this? Why did he jump bail 3 times for? Why did he have a man sent to prison for 25 years for stabbing him for? Did he have pity on Iras family?Saint Fernolio must pay for his sins.
Posted by: Responsible Driver Location: Sun Prairie on Sep 8, 2007 at 04:40 PM
We all agree I'm sure that this is a tragic happening; those little ones of Fenolio's will be hurt also and as I'm sure the fiancee. BUT he'll live, he'll do his time and get out of jail but the victim will never be alive again, and that's the most tragic thing of all, the taking a human life. If you look Fenolio's record up, too; he's no angel either but then which one of us are? We should just get the drunk drivers off the roads for good.
Posted by: A nony mous Location: Everywhere, WI on Sep 8, 2007 at 04:26 PM
If you knew the victim then you also KNEW what kind of physical problems he had which would have been exacerbated by drinking; he might have had his run-ins with the law but not for drunk driving EVER so how could you even suggest such a thing; why don't you ask his ex-wife since you seem to be a so-called "friend".
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Sep 8, 2007 at 04:01 PM
Since Michael Jurgens isn't here to defend himself from his so called friend, I feel the need to. I know first hand he was not drinking that night. If you new him as well as you say you did you'd also know he would not get into his car or on his bike when he had been drinking. He loved his kids so much and no matter how old they are they needed their father. He did not choose to die and leave them that night. Michael Fenolio chose to get in that car and drive drunk again. This time everybody loses.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2007 at 03:05 PM
THIS POST IS FOR THE FENOLIO FAMILY: I know the victum in this crash very well i would even consider myself a friend of his and honestly LOOK him up on CCAP he is no saint himself he has had his fair share of run-ins with the law. Quite honestly I wouldnt be surprised if he was drinking the night of the crash....
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2007 at 03:02 PM
I like How you at NBC only print the comments that make the driver of the car look bad. When I a friend of the Motorcyclist have more than once posted a comment about my friend of years Michael Jurgens that you have so conveinently not posted. Thats some real fair journalism that makes this a real one sided story now doesn't it.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Madison on Sep 8, 2007 at 02:36 PM
To A nony mous in Everywhere, WI: You requested that you would like to know where Fenolio's parent are? They are deceased.
Posted by: A nony mous Location: Everywhere, WI on Sep 8, 2007 at 01:50 PM
Michael Jurgens' youngest boys are 18 & 19; not really on their own since they were going to go to college this year, which, now probably won't happen because there's no more dad to take care of them. He was a kind and loving father and provided well for all of his children; put one through UW-M and law school and who's now an attorney in NYC. Were you on your own at 18 and 19 or still living at home? Yes, it's tragic for both families and I pray nothing happens to Fenolio's kids. I hope he's learned his lesson, maybe apologize to everyone for his actions and do his time like the man you say he is. OR will he go out and get drunk again -- who knows!
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 8, 2007 at 10:29 AM
THANK YOU PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN FINALLY SOMEONE OTHER THAN ME ADMITS THAT THIS IS TRAGIC FOR BOTH FAMILIES INVOLVED. The bottom line is Fenolio does have a family as well and while if he was infact drinking and driving then he will get a punishment according to the laws. Jurgens children are grown and old enough to take care of themselves for the most part, where fenolio's children are all under the age of five. What kind of a person are you S from CP to actually suggest that these children growning up without a father would be better than having Fenolio for a dad you dont know him and know nothing about his interactions with his children!!!!!!!! Fenolio Is a GREAT FATHER AND PROVIDES VERY WELL FOR HIS CHILDREN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: S Location: CP on Sep 8, 2007 at 07:28 AM
Maybe his fiancee and three small kids would be better off with this man behind bars. That way he doesn't have the chance to put his children in the car with him while is drunk.
Posted by: Proud to be an American on Sep 8, 2007 at 07:09 AM
To S in madison: Your comment was "he should take responsibilty for his actions and not hide behind his lawyers?" What exactly does that mean, How do you hide behind your lawyers? He is in jail - he is taking resposibilty for his actions: he didn't flee the scene - he didn't skip the country (knowing an arrest was coming any day...) We live in America and our system works - part of our systm is that he is entitled to a defense! Heaven forbid if you or a loved one ever needed a defense... You too would want one - no matter what the charge! I do not condone the drivers actions - but your comment is absolutely rediculous! My heart and prayers are with BOTH families.
Posted by: A nony mous Location: Everywhere, WI on Sep 8, 2007 at 12:04 AM
So now it's the courts' fault that Fenolio drove drunk? Had he really loved his kids and fiancee he wouldn't have been driving drunk but going to AA meetings or trying to get his life on track. Don't blame the courts; he's of legal age and should have known much better. True it won't bring back the person he killed but Fenolio had a choice -- to drive drunk. And he should pay for it. Yes, his kids will have to pay, too, but Fenolio should've thought of that before he got himself into this mess. If you want to feel sorry for someone, feel sorry for the family that got traumatized by Fenolio's actions; Jurgens had five children and three grandchildren, two brothers and loving parents. Where are Fenolio's parents or brothers? What did they do to help him or keep him from drinking? I think we'd all like to know.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 7, 2007 at 07:49 PM
I understand that you the family of the man driving are feeling pain and i am very sorry for your loss, but do you really see justice in putting the car driver behind bars for the rest of his life? He has a fiance and three small children at home. Yes he is at fault for drinking and driving in the first place... but maybe what he really needs is some treatment because had the courts done their job and ordered that one one of his prior drunk driving convictions this accident probally would have never happened in the first place.
Posted by: Christina Location: Madison on Sep 7, 2007 at 05:43 PM
Oh My! Chuck, all our hearts go out to you and your family!! I think Mike had a great idea... stiffer penalties are surely in order. Do you realize that Wisconsin has the third highest number of deaths in the United States due to alcohol? Gov. Doyle was going to put a huge tax on cigarettes to force people to quit, or help pay for the medical care they would need... I wonder if perhaps he should put a $10 tax on every six pack, and a $7.50 on a 750 ml bottle of booze. That, plus increased fines, increased jail time to sober up through state required treatment, and perhaps prison labor details... like cleaning up accident scenes, and digging graves with shovels, and then filling them by hand, may bring their "goodness" to light. My heart and love to Chuck's family.
Posted by: John Location: Elkhorn on Sep 7, 2007 at 05:22 PM
The duty of the Goverment is to protect its citizens. Exception 1, unless they are OWI. Than its OK. Low fines and a slap on the wrist are an insult to the taxpayers. Tommy Thompson and Gov Doyle, you killed my brother by negleting to inact harsher penalties to these out of control addicts. After his forth DUI, you gave him a suspended sentece of 90 days in jail. And as far as his friends and family? They had a chance to stop him too. Before it was too late. But they didnt care either. No pity from me for killing my best friend and brother, and no votes for the liberal democrats that made that possable. As long as it wasnt your Brother, Father, Grandfather, or Son. Im sick of the cowards who allow it to happen. And Mike Fenolio, I will tell you what I think at your sentencing hearing.
Posted by: S Location: Madison on Sep 7, 2007 at 04:40 PM
To Anonymous in madison, the difference is that it doesn't matter what a wonderful person this murderer is. The pain that his family is experiencing is brought on by him, and at least they still have their loved one alive. And, let's face it, he will probably get a light sentence like most of them do. If drunk drivers that kill people were charged with murder, THEN justice would be served. Then again, if repeated drunk drivers weren't given the opportunity to be driving or even walking around in general, then HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of families that lost loved ones to repeat drunk drivers wouldn't be grieving. The right thing for this man to do is to TAKE RESPONSIBILITY for his actions, not hide behind his lawyers. If you look at the stats of people that cause fatal drunk driving accidents, they are almost always repeat offenders. The pain of the Fenolio family shouldn't even be COMPARED to what the victim's family is going through. Chuck, you and your family are in my prayers.
Posted by: Anonymous Location: madison on Sep 7, 2007 at 01:51 PM
To Chuck please use this as a stepping stone to get laws changed...I agree with the rest of you, harsher sentences early on could've prevented this accident. 55 days for a 3rd DUI and 90 days for a 4th is not enough to get the message. Now on another note, try to keep in mind that you do not know the driver personally, other than his public record, you have know idea where he comes from or what kind of person he is. You must relize that his friends & family are hurt also. Put yourself in his position, of course his lawyer is trying to do all he can, it's his job. You too would want a good defense if you were facing these charges. He is not trying to get out of killing your brother, he is trying to deal with this tragedy, the best he can. He has a conscious. He has his own demons badgering him. I don't think you have to worry about your family's justice being served. He's in jail now & is facing alot of time. My heart goes out to you, but please know another family is also suffering.
Posted by: Responsible Rider Location: Columbia County on Sep 7, 2007 at 01:30 PM
I am just floored that this is the man that was defended so stongly by the young woman in the earlier article. Fifth offense! Please lawmakers - spend your time keeping convicted drunk drivers off our roads, instead of the silliness that seems to dominate your sessions. To Mike's family, your loss and frustration is shared by many you will never know.
Posted by: styxrox Location: Dane Co on Sep 7, 2007 at 10:46 AM
Yet another drunk with umpteen offenses is left to drive on our roads and kill another innocent victim! WHEN will our law enforcement and government impose stiffer penalties and demand mandatory treatment and breath analyzers on ALL DUI offenders vehicles so they can not drive to kill again? In my opinion, one offense is too many, one life lost is too many!
Posted by: Rosa Location: Madison on Sep 7, 2007 at 08:38 AM
Yes, that Man should get Jail Time. But most of all, he needs Counseling and a lot of help. Alcoholism is adictive, and one can not get off as easy as some might think. I do not drink myself, but i have a Grandfather who was killd by a Drunk Driver. Not only should the Man be charged, but the Bars that gave him the Alcohol should also be held responsible. Tougher penalties for Alcohol related incidents etc.
Posted by: Mike Location: Madison on Sep 7, 2007 at 07:00 AM
Well! Thank heaven they stopped him those first four times before he killed someone! Too bad our lawmakers don't put some teeth in our laws to discourage this kind of behavior... like maybe a felony first offense, a minimum year in prison, and a minimum $100,000 fine! That would sure sober some people up quickly after they got caught the first time, and they would have a year to sober up and think about it!
Posted by: Chuck Location: Minocqua, WI on Sep 6, 2007 at 09:40 PM
This guy is a real piece of work, trying to get out of killing my brother last month. Even after three hours in jail, his BAL was still over the legal limit and his defense is still trying to throw that out too! And to add insult to injury, his friends have accused our family of harrassing them!! I do not care about anything anymore but the justice to come in this tragedy. Five OWI'S and this guy was still driving. My brother deserved NONE of this.
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