Suvechha Sarkar
In March 1992, the tight-knit community of Royalton, Wisconsin, was shaken to its core with a heartbreaking crime. Tanna M. Togstad and Timothy Wendall Mumbrue were a loving couple who were brutally killed at the former’s home. The double murder left their family members and the investigators desperate for answers as the case grew colder with each passing year. NBC’s ‘Dateline: Raising the Dead’ delves deeper into the case and how a shocking twist during the trial acquitted the person whom law enforcement believed was responsible for Tanna and Timothy’s deaths. It also features interviews with their loved ones and the officials who gave it their best to serve justice.
Tanna Togstad and Timothy Mumbrue Were Found Dead From Stab Wounds in Tanna’s Farmhouse
Tanna M. Togstad was born on August 20, 1968, in New London, Wisconsin. Growing up, she always received an abundance of love and support from her parents, David R. Togstad and Helen Mary Hoffman. She also had a special bond with her siblings, Veronica, Richard, and Jeffrey. It appears that after a few years, Tanna’s parents parted ways, and Helen married Charles Hoffman on October 23, 1981. After completing her education, Tanna began working at a cheese factory. Around 1991, she met the love of her life, Timothy Wendall Mumbrue, and they soon began dating. Timothy came into the lives of Lavern Mumbrue and Betty A. Sorenson as a bundle of joy on June 17, 1957. He grew up in a loving household in Waupaca, Wisconsin, alongside his siblings, Terri, Teddy, Thomas, Todd, and Tina.
Since the relationship between Lavern and Betty didn’t work out, the former tied the knot with Barbara Pomerenke on September 18, 1976. The union welcomed Timothy’s stepsisters, Tammy, Nancy, Sandy, and stepbrother, Rick, into his life. After completing his education, Timothy began working at the Waupaca Foundry. Around that time, he crossed paths with Colleen Minks, and they exchanged their vows on October 3, 1987. Shortly after, they welcomed their son, Cody, into their lives. Unfortunately, their marriage faced several challenges along the way, ultimately leading to its end. Over time, Timothy met Tanna, and they formed an unbreakable bond. On March 21, 1992, they were spending time at her farmhouse on the Butternut Ridge Road. Things took a turn when Tanna’s brother-in-law, Randy Johnson, who lived nearby, became concerned.
According to reports, on the morning of March 22, Randy noticed that 23-year-old Tanna’s horse was unattended, and Timothy’s truck was positioned in an unusual manner. It prompted Randy and some of their family members to go inside the house, where they discovered Tanna and the 34-year-old dead in the bedroom. When the officials arrived after receiving the 911 call, they found both of them dead from stab wounds and a scene filled with blood. They also noted that the room was in disarray, and there was no murder weapon present at the scene. The autopsy revealed that there were signs of sexual assault, and DNA was collected from Tanna’s remains. While she passed away from a fatal stab wound to her chest, Timothy had multiple stab wounds to the head, neck, and chest. Reports state that Tanna’s dog also died from a stab wound.
A Suspect Was Identified Based on DNA Evidence After Three Decades
Once the investigation began, Tanna’s brother-in-law, Randy, informed the detectives that around 4:50 am, he had heard a dog barking. According to his statements, he had also heard a vehicle making a loud noise and the tail lights of the car on March 21, 1992. Court records state that several witnesses came forward to confirm that both Tanna and Timothy were last seen on March 20, 1992. Despite consistent efforts by law enforcement and thorough examination of the DNA evidence, it yielded no concrete leads. The case eventually went cold until July 6, 2022, when investigators took the DNA sample of a possible suspect, Tony G. Haase, using his pen.
Investigators reported that his DNA matched the evidence recovered from the scene. Tony was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. According to police records, when officials questioned him, he confessed that on March 20, 1992, he was intoxicated when he recalled the snowmobile accident involving his father in 1977, which led to his death. Official reports state that the accident involved Tanna’s father, and according to Tony’s statements, it allegedly prompted him to drive to Tanna’s home on the fateful night. According to police interrogation records, Tony reportedly stated he remembered fragments of the night and allegedly attacking Tanna and Timothy. His defense later argued that the statements were coerced.
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A Jury Trial and Contested Forensics Led to the Acquittal of the Suspect
By January 2023, the court had ordered that Tony would have to stand trial. However, he had later appealed to exclude the DNA evidence during the jury trial, which was denied in June 2025. Official reports state that the defense consistently claimed that another relative of Tony might have been involved with the double murder. Since that individual had already passed away, his remains were exhumed and tested. It reportedly helped officials to eliminate Tony’s relative as the suspect. The jury trial of Tony began on July 14, 2025, during which the defense argued that the DNA evidence used in the case was contaminated.
The defense reportedly claimed that Tony’s confession was given under coercion. Eventually, he was acquitted of all charges on August 11, 2025, and walked away a free man. Furthermore, the court ruling prevents him from being tried again in criminal court on homicide charges. Shortly after the acquittal, Tanna’s brother, Richard, filed a wrongful-death civil suit against Tony, seeking damages. However, by October, Tony denied all the allegations against him. Since Tony was acquitted on all charges, he is presumed innocent under the law. Thus, sadly, the murders of Tanna and Timothy remain a mystery to this day, and their family members are still yearning for answers. Ultimately, justice for both of them remains to be served.
