RACINE — An arrest has been made in a 1987 homicide case that went cold long ago.
Fred Wagner-Richardson, 83, was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of his estranged wife, Derby Wagner-Richardson, on March 22, 1987, who died from cuts to her throat and wrists.
Derby Wagner-Richardson was 28 years old at the time of her death and was the mother to two daughters. According to her obituary, she wanted to enter the profession of law enforcement and had recently applied to work for the Racine County Sheriff’s Office.
The case was cold for decades before the Racine Police Department began reviewing the evidence in early 2024.
Leading up to the homicide
Derby Wagner-Richardson was divorcing her husband at the time she was killed, and she had a restraining order against him after he allegedly threatened to kill her and then choked her until she was unconscious.
Derby Wagner-Richardson worked overnight as a security guard at Styberg Engineering, 1600 Goold St. On March 22, 1987, she failed to make the 1 a.m. check-in and was reported missing. At about 8:24 a.m., the Racine Police Department was dispatched to the 1600 block of Layard Ave. on the report of the discovery of a dead body, which was later identified as Derby Wagner-Richardson.
According to the criminal complaint, Derby Wagner-Richardson was found in the trunk of her vehicle. She was nude and her mouth was bound with white duct tape. She had an injury to her head and her throat and wrists were cut. She was still wearing her jewelry, so robbery was ruled out as a motive, and there was no evidence of a sexual assault.
A pathologist later determined the injury to her head was likely made by bolt cutters.
The homicide investigation
Investigators determined the suspect gained access to the Styberg Engineering property by cutting a section of a chain-link fence along the east side of the property. Crime-scene photos show a shoe print on the property with a pointed toe, similar to a cowboy boot, which investigators learned the defendant wore.
Derby Wagner-Richardson’s security uniform was found ripped into pieces and scattered along Spring Street. Investigators also recovered a pair of black and red bolt cutters, which a relative identified as the same type Fred Wagner-Richardson owned. A sales receipt was recovered indicating after the homicide, the defendant purchased a new pair of bolt cutters.
An RPD officer on night duty reported seeing a car similar to Derby Wagner-Richardson’s backed up to the rear service door of 1212 State St. at about 3 a.m. Fred Wagner-Richardson owned the property. Residents of the property informed police the basement and rear door where the car was parked were used exclusively by the property owner and not the renters, who did not have keys or access to it, according to the complaint.
Fred Wagner-Richardson allegedly made comments at the time his estranged wife died that were later learned to be untrue. He told one friend he would be busy over the weekend because he had his children. According to the criminal complaint, that was false because it was Derby Richardson-Wagner’s weekend with the children. He told another friend he was sick in bed all weekend.
Possible motive
Fred Wagner-Richardson was particularly upset that he would lose money from his rental properties as a result of the divorce, according to the criminal complaint.
Reportedly, during divorce proceedings, the two met with their attorneys to discuss dividing the marital properties, the defendant allegedly cried and said, “I’m very hurt. I’m very hurt.”
He reportedly looked pointedly at Derby Wagner-Richardson and said, “I don’t like being hurt,” before abruptly leaving the meeting.
Derby Wagner-Richardson told her attorney that she was “in fear for her life and Fred was going to kill her.”
Her attorney responded by requesting extra patrols from the RPD.
Next step
The defendant’s bail was set at $250,000. A preliminary hearing in Racine County Circuit Court was scheduled for 9 a.m. April 10.
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