Wisconsin Family Seeks Removal of Murder Case From Ad
The family of Berit Beck is calling on a political group to pull an attack ad featuring details of her 1990 murder.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Criminal Justice
The family of Berit Beck has requested that the Democratic Attorney Generals Association remove references to her 1990 murder case from a political attack ad. The family stated that the inclusion of the case in the campaign advertisement reopens emotional wounds and was done without their consent.
Why it matters
The controversy highlights the intersection of political campaigning and the handling of sensitive cold cases, drawing criticism from those who feel victim impact is ignored in partisan messaging. The family's public plea serves as a pushback against the use of tragic personal history for political gain.
Dennis Brantner accepted a 10-year prison sentence in 2018 for second-degree reckless homicide following a 2016 trial that ended in a hung jury. The case had previously remained cold for over 30 years before fingerprint evidence was identified in 2014.
The players
Berit Beck
She was the victim of a 1990 murder case in Wisconsin that remained unsolved for decades.
Eric Toney
He is a district attorney in Wisconsin who served on the prosecution team that secured a plea deal in the case.
Dennis Brantner
He is a convicted criminal who pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless homicide in the death of Berit Beck.
Democratic Attorney Generals Association
This is a political organization that produced the advertisement currently being challenged by the family.
The details
The attack ad, produced by the DAGA People's Lawyer Project, criticizes Eric Toney’s handling of cases by featuring an image of a van linked to the 1990 homicide. Toney, who was part of the prosecution team, has condemned the advertisement as dishonest.
Timeline
Berit Beck went missing in July 1990.
The Wisconsin Crime Lab identified fingerprint evidence in 2014.
A 2016 jury trial for the defendant resulted in no verdict.
Dennis Brantner accepted a 10-year prison sentence in 2018.
The Beck family requested the ad's removal on October 20, 2026.
Legal Context
This dispute reflects a growing trend where cold case outcomes are leveraged in political attack ads, often triggering pushback from grieving families. It marks a departure from standard campaign rhetoric, highlighting the sensitivity required when referencing violent crime in electoral contests.
The use of specific local crime imagery in statewide political ads may increase public awareness regarding the history of cold cases in the region. Residents are now seeing a direct clash between political campaign tactics and the privacy of victims' families.
The takeaway
Families impacted by violent crime often have little control over how their personal tragedies are used in public discourse. This situation serves as a reminder for political campaigns to consult with families before featuring sensitive legal cases in advertisements.
Further reading
For more context on legal proceedings in the state, visit the Wisconsin Criminal Justice section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Journal Sentinel.
