La Crosse man accused of stabbing wife 50 times charged with first-degree murder

A 36-year-old La Crosse man arrested this week was formally charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the apparent stabbing death of his wife.

Zachary Fritz could be sent to prison for life if convicted of last Monday's murder at his family's Redwood Court home in Shelby.

A criminal complaint states the victim suffered more than 50 stab wounds to his body, as well as blunt force trauma and several bite marks.

Fritz told police his wife had committed suicide.

Court Commissioner Pat Heim said she would not change Fritz's $1 million cash bail.

An autopsy determined the causes of death to be blunt force injuries and stab wounds, according to the complaint.

He has another court hearing on June 19 and remains incarcerated in the La Crosse County Jail.