Kuenzi charged in hit-and-run death

WAUPACA - A Waupaca County man suspected of participating in the thrill killing of several deer last January, has now been charged in connection with the 2004 hit-and-run death of 20-year-old Kevin McCoy.

Twenty-five-year-old Rory Kuenzi of Weyauwega faces charges of homicide by driving while intoxicated and failing to stop and give information to or help the victim of the crash. A passenger in Kuenzi’s truck, 23-year-old Walter J. Engel of Waupaca, is charged with perjury for allegedly lying during a court hearing.

Prosecutors from the state attorney general’s office, who filed the charges, allege Kuenzi and Engel were at an underage drinking party in rural Waupaca the night of Oct. 23-24, 2004. When they left the party in Kuenzi’s truck, prosecutors say Kuenzi hit McCoy while he was walking along Butts Road, and continued driving. Engel told police he thought they hit a deer but were unsure.

Another partygoer told investigators he followed Kuenzi’s truck out of the party. He said he and Kuenzi moved McCoy’s body into a ditch. During a March 2009 “John Doe” court hearing, the partygoer said Engel watched the two move McCoy’s body, which Engel did not mention during his testimony.

Kuenzi is due to appear in court Dec. 10.

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