Kriti Mehrotra
It was in March 1992 when everything turned upside down for two Wisconsin families as Tanna Togstad, Timothy Mumbrue, and their dog were found dead inside the former’s Royalton home. As explored in NBC’s ‘Dateline: Raising the Dead,’ the case sadly went cold within a few years due to a lack of concrete leads, but a suspect was finally arrested after over three decades in 2022. That’s when Tanna’s family finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she would soon get the justice she had always deserved, while they would gain a sense of closure; yet to absolutely no avail.
Tanna Togstad’s Loving Family Found Her Remains
Tanna Togstad was born on August 20, 1968, into a supportive household in New London, Wisconsin, headed by Helen Cmereck and David Togstad as one of their four children. She grew up alongside three siblings – Veronica, Richard, and Jeffery Togstad – all of whom reportedly always maintained a very tight-knit connection with one another. This bond between them persisted even as they grew up, to the extent that the sisters ended up living in rather close proximity by the early 1990s.
Therefore, when Veronica’s husband, Randy Johnson, noticed his sister-in-law’s horse walking around unattended and her then-boyfriend’s truck parked in an unusual manner, he became very concerned. He relayed this information to his wife, who then contacted some other family members, prompting them to decide it would be best to check up on the young couple, Tanna and Timothy. They had no idea they would find the duo, as well as their dog, stabbed to death in a brutal and bloody manner. It drove them to contact the police and relay everything they knew immediately.
Tanna Togstad’s Family Has Filed a Wrongful Death Lawsuit
While Tanna’s loved ones were hopeful officials would be able to bring her and Timothy some justice owing to the evidence present at the scene, all they really wanted were answers. They wanted to know what precisely happened to the couple and why, because they could have never imagined anyone wanting to harm them, let alone kill them in such a horrid, merciless manner. Yet, as the gruesome details of the autopsy and investigations painted a clear picture of the incident, her brother Richard reportedly came to believe that sometimes not knowing is better than knowing.
Tanna’s family was happy when Tony Hasse was arrested in connection with the double homicide more than three decades later, in August 2022, because it was based on genetic evidence. The family believed he was responsible and would be convicted, but things took a turn during his 2025 trial as the defense contested the DNA testing while also arguing there were other suspects not properly looked into. Therefore, on August 6, 2025, while the criminal trial was still ongoing, Richard filed a wrongful death lawsuit, seeking nearly $17 million in damages for the murder he believes Tony committed.
Therefore, even though Tony was acquitted on August 11, 2025, under the stipulation that he can not be criminally charged for the double homicide again, he still faces another trial – albeit a civil one. The lawsuit against him seeks a jury trial for at least $7 million in compensatory damages for Tanna’s alleged suffering and the family’s distress, as well as at least $10 million in punitive damages. When asked why he filed the lawsuit, Richard asserted, “(Tony) got to live his life. He got to have kids; he got to have grandkids. He got to have all these things. And Tanna got nothing, absolutely nothing, besides dead.”
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Helen Hoffman Passed Away in 2022, While Richard Togstad Continues to Fight For His Sister
According to records, Helen Mary Cmereck Hoffman passed away at the age of 82 at her home on August 14, 2022, mere days after Tony was arrested in connection with her daughter’s murder. The former healthcare worker from Waupaca, Wisconsin, and the father of her 4 children, David Togstad, had ended up parting ways around the 1970s, but she soon found love again with Charles Hoffman. In fact, she tied the knot with him on October 23, 1981, so when she sadly died, she left behind her husband of 41 years, her daughter Veronica, her son Richard, and their respective families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her daughter Tanna, and her son Jeffrey Togstad, who unexpectedly passed away at the age of 44 on February 19, 2015.
Thus, when Richard filed the wrongful death lawsuit, he did so on behalf of his late sister, his late mother, his late brother, and the rest of the family because all they really want is for justice to be served so that Tanna can finally rest easy. On a more personal note, from what we can gather, Richard is based in Weyauwega, Wisconsin, where he is surrounded by loved ones, including his wife, Deanne, their three children, and their many grandchildren. He is retired, so it appears that he now prefers to spend most of his time with family, engaging in snow sports or other outdoor adventures, traveling, or continuing to fight for what he believes is justice in Tanna’s case.
