Green Bay, WI – A 25-year-old Wisconsin man, already serving time for attempting to kill his mother, was convicted on Wednesday of first-degree intentional homicide for strangling his cellmate to death at the Green Bay Correctional Institution. Jackson Vogel was found guilty in the death of 19-year-old Micah Laureano, whose body was discovered in August 2023.
Details of the Crime
The jury convicted Vogel after hearing evidence about the brutal killing, which Vogel admitted to in his statements to investigators. Vogel, who is white, told authorities he killed Laureano because Laureano was Black and gay. Vogel allegedly knocked Laureano unconscious, tied his hands and feet with orange cloth, and strangled him. Laureano’s body was found hanging from the top bunk in their shared cell, and his hands and feet were bound.
The criminal complaint revealed disturbing details about the crime scene. Investigators discovered cut strips of orange cloth around the cell and a handwritten note with hateful messages targeting Black people and gay people, including the phrase “Kill all humans!” followed by profanities. Vogel’s explanation of the crime further revealed his racial and homophobic motivations.
Background on the Defendant and Victim
Vogel is no stranger to violent crime. He is already serving a 20-year sentence for repeatedly stabbing, strangling, and attempting to snap the neck of his mother in 2018. This latest conviction adds to his lengthy criminal history. Vogel faces a mandatory life sentence when he is sentenced on June 27.
Laureano, the victim, was serving a three-year sentence for battery and robbery charges. His mother, Phyllis Laureano, has since filed a federal lawsuit, accusing prison officials of failing to protect her son from Vogel’s attack. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages, holding prison officials accountable for their alleged negligence.
Prison Conditions and Ongoing Issues
Green Bay Correctional Institution, a maximum-security facility that opened in 1898, has been the subject of ongoing scrutiny due to incidents like the killing of Laureano and other issues related to inmate safety. Republican lawmakers have called for the closure of Green Bay and another maximum-security facility, Waupun Correctional Institution, following multiple inmate deaths. However, efforts to close the prisons have been stalled due to concerns over job losses and the high cost of building new correctional facilities.
Looking Ahead
As Vogel awaits his life sentence, the case highlights ongoing concerns about safety and conditions in Wisconsin’s prisons. With ongoing lawsuits and calls for prison reform, the tragedy at Green Bay Correctional Institution has once again put a spotlight on the challenges within the state’s correctional system.
What are your thoughts on the prison system’s responsibility in protecting inmates from violence? Should more be done to prevent such crimes? Share your opinions in the comments.
