Shivangi Sinha
In the early morning hours of September 2016, Todd Kendhammer contacted police to report a serious accident involving his wife, Barbara Kendhammer. He claimed that a metal pipe had fallen from a truck ahead of them, smashed through their windshield, and struck Barbara, causing their car to veer into a ditch. She was taken to the hospital but later died from her injuries. As investigators examined the scene, doubts began to emerge about Todd’s account, and evidence soon pointed toward foul play. The episode titled ‘Mystery on County Road M’ of CBS’ ‘48 Hours’ sheds light on the intricate details of the case and the ensuing investigation, with the help of exclusive interviews with officials involved in the case, along with Barbara Kendhammer’s loved ones.
Todd Kendhammer’s Version of Events Couldn’t be Corroborated Easily
Todd Kendhammer met Barbara Kendhammer when they were both teenagers, and their relationship began around 1989. Not long after, they decided to build a future together and were married in 1991, when they were both 21 years old. The couple went on to raise two children, Jessica and Jordan, and settled in West Salem, Wisconsin. Over the years, they established a stable and comfortable life. Todd worked multiple jobs at the same time and spent many years at a factory that produced aluminum soda cans while also taking on informal glass and windshield repair work to supplement his income. Additionally, Todd and Barbara occasionally purchased and renovated homes to resell. Through their combined efforts, they created a life they felt proud of and secure in.
By September 2016, the Kendhammers had become grandparents, a role they cherished deeply, and had recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. They were looking forward to a family vacation, and their children had returned home for a visit. The day of September 16, 2016, began like any other for the pair. Todd was off work, and as was routine when he was free, he drove Barbara to her job. Shortly after 8 am, he called 911, reporting that a metal pipe from a flatbed truck traveling ahead of them had come loose, penetrated through the windshield, and struck Barbara. He claimed the impact caused their vehicle to veer off County Road M and land in a ditch.
Todd Kendhammer Gave Varying Accounts of His Day to the Police
By the time emergency responders arrived, Todd Kendhammer was instructed to perform CPR, and Barbara Kendhammer was rushed to the hospital. Sadly, she later died from her injuries. Almost immediately, investigators began questioning Todd’s account of what had happened. One of the first red flags was the route he claimed they were driving, as it was in the opposite direction from Barbara’s workplace. When asked about this, Todd said he had been planning to meet someone who needed a windshield repaired. However, the person denied having any such meeting scheduled. Police also noticed injuries on him, including bruised knuckles and scratches on his neck.
Todd explained these marks as routine cuts from working with glass, but his employer later stated that he rarely, if ever, handled glass in his job. Four days after the incident, Barbara’s remains were sent for an autopsy, and the findings raised serious doubts about Todd’s version of events. The medical examiner noted injuries to the back of her head along with indications consistent with possible strangulation. Investigators also attempted to recreate the accident as Todd had described it, including the pipe allegedly falling from a truck, but the results didn’t align with his account.
Although Todd continued to insist her death was accidental, authorities ultimately classified it as a homicide. DNA recovered from beneath Barbara’s fingernails matched Todd, prompting another interview. During questioning, he gave shifting statements. He named a completely different person that he was going to meet that morning, and when questioned about the inconsistency, he simply said that he did not remember clearly. The truck he had mentioned couldn’t be located on the CCTV footage, and the police believed that Todd was not being honest.
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Todd Kendhammer is Serving His Sentence in a Wisconsin Prison Today
In December 2016, Todd Kendhammer was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with his wife Barbara’s death. His trial began in December 2017 and spanned nine days. A key witness for the prosecution was the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy, testifying that Barbara’s injuries were not consistent with an accident. Todd testified in his own defense but again offered varying explanations for why he had taken a detour that morning. The jury ultimately found him guilty, and he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 30 years.
In February 2021, Todd filed a post-conviction motion claiming ineffective assistance of counsel. An evidentiary hearing was held in August 2021, during which experts testified for the defense, but the motion was denied. A subsequent appeal filed in June 2024 was rejected in October. Today, at the age of 55, Todd is incarcerated at Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin.
