Wisconsin Man Who Journaled About Plans to “Eliminate” His Parents Sentenced to Life for Their Murders

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, WISCONSIN — A 28-year-old Wisconsin man who meticulously documented plans to “eliminate” his parents has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms for their brutal murders, officials confirmed Friday.

Erik Tyrrell Metzig, of Winnebago County, fatally shot his parents, David and Jan Metzig, in their bedroom in March 2023 — a crime so calculated that investigators later discovered a journal in which he detailed his intent to kill them and make it appear as though they had “gone missing during a walk.”

Winnebago County Circuit Judge Michael Gibbs handed down the maximum sentence, calling the killings “cold, deliberate, and devoid of remorse.”

Parents Found Dead With Bags Over Their Heads

Deputies were dispatched to the family’s home in the 8000 block of Metzig Road after a hang-up 911 call was traced to the residence. When officers arrived and could not reach the homeowners, one of the couple’s sons, identified in court documents as “W1,” let deputies inside.

“Upon walking through the home, W1 found his parents in their bedroom, covered in blankets, with bags over their heads, and deceased from apparent gunshot wounds,” investigators wrote in the affidavit.

A large pool of blood surrounded the bodies. Deputies discovered a loaded AR-style rifle inside the home — the same type of weapon that Erik had “recently shown interest in,” his brother told police.

Authorities found Metzig later that day at a YMCA 26 miles away, wearing shooting glasses typically used at gun ranges.

Chilling Journal and Lack of Remorse

Inside Erik Metzig’s room, detectives uncovered a journal outlining his thoughts about killing his parents and “making it look like they disappeared.”

Court documents say Metzig lived with his parents and had ongoing tensions with them before the murders.

At sentencing, Judge Gibbs condemned Metzig for trying to shift blame onto his victims and medication rather than showing remorse.

“There’s some victim blaming, some medication blaming, but very little remorse is being shown,” Gibbs said, according to WGBA.

Siblings Demand Justice for Their Parents

Two of Metzig’s siblings delivered emotional impact statements during the hearing, calling their brother “dangerous and manipulative.”

“If Erik is willing to murder our own parents — the very people who loved him the most — he’s capable of harming anyone,” one brother said, according to WLUK.

Another sibling added, “Out of justice for my parents, I ask the court for a sentence of life without parole.”

Judge Gibbs granted that request, sentencing Metzig to life in prison without the possibility of parole for both counts of first-degree murder.

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