A 27-year-old Valentine man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for the 2021 murder of 52-year-old Ruth Wittmuss in Kilgore.
Kevin Kilmer was found guilty at a trial in Cherry County in August. Judge Mark Kozisek sentenced Kilmer to life in prison and an additional 10-14 years for use of a weapon to commit a felony.
Kilmer was arrested by Cherry County authorities in 2021 when he was found in a wooded area less than an hour after authorities had asked the public for help in their search for him, citing his involvement in an “incident.”
Man sentenced in Memorial Day 2022 crash; new housing plans tabbed for longtime garden spot; 3-quarterback mix still in play
Top Journal Star photos for November 2023
Darlene Jansen, 80, touches up her Serving Hands art piece titled “Monarch Butterfly” at 78th and Pioneers Boulevard outside The Monarch hospice, on Monday. Jansen, who owns an art studio and teaches art at Southeast Community College, painted two of the 50 serving hands that dot the city. Jansen said she feels a real connection to her work and enjoys keeping them beautiful. “It is a project that you put your love into,” she said. “As long as I am around here I’ll touch it up. It warms my heart that I can do something for the community.”
Nebraska’s Rienk Mast (right) falls to the ground in a tangle for the ball with Rider’s Mervin James on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 during the first half of the game at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Henry Gonnerman, 10, Augustine Milana, 7, and Iris Gonnerman, 7, (from left) wave their flags outside the Capitol while singing “America the Beautiful” before the start of the Lincoln Veterans Parade on Sunday.
Christy Arfman and her 3-year-old son, Kenzel Mallory, play at their home in Lincoln. Arfman, a single mother, who has battled cancer and an autoimmune disease, is currently unemployed and could use some help this holiday season.
Nebraska volleyball head coach John Cook practices roping with a dummy calf at Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln on Sunday after a 3-1 win in a match against Illinois. Cook said he became addicted to calf roping as a hobby after he bought a pair of horses and attended rodeo practice. “It’s a great challenge for me. You’ve gotta be balanced, you’ve gotta have hand-eye coordination, you’ve gotta work with your horse, then you’ve gotta hope that the steer goes straight,” he said. “It’s a really cool hobby — keeps me sharp and competitive.”
Nebraska’s Laney Choboy (6) lays out to make a diving save in the fourth set Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Maryland’s Beau Brade (2) attempts to tackle Nebraska’s Janiran Bonner (16) as he leaps forward past the pylon for a third-quarter touchdown on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
From left, One Health coordinator Liz VanWormer, University of Nebraska-Lincoln doctoral student Shabani Muller and undergraduate senior Nikki Klosterman lift a fishing net from a farm pond as they look for bullfrog tadpoles in a farm pond downstream from AltEn on Nov. 2.
Nebraska head coach Matt Rhule watches Maryland’s Jeshaun Jones drop a pass during the second half on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Maryland defenders try to hold back Nebraska’s Ty Robinson (9) as he tackles Maryland’s Roman Hemby (24) in the fourth quarter at Memorial Stadium, on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.
Wahoo’s Avery Wieting gestures to the crowd as he celebrates the victory over Sidney during a Class C-1 state semifinal on Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, in Wahoo.
Hay Springs’ Gage Mintken (11) stiff arms Parkview Christian’s Miles Cole (12) on a third-quarter run during a Class D-6 semifinal game Friday at Parkview Christian.
Yang Ran performs a Chinese traditional umbrella dance during Maxey Heritage Night at Maxey Elementary School on Thursday.
Roper Elementary School PTO president Jessie James pushes a hydroponics tower, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, at Roper Elementary School.
Shelley Goodrich, Tyler Goodrich’s mother, holds a candle alongside friends and family members during a candlelight vigil for her son at Pioneers Park on Tuesday. Tyler Goodrich was last seen at his home in the 1000 block of West Burnham Street at about 7:45 p.m. on Friday.
Denise Craft stands inside her Ashland shop, Flutterby Finds, where she sells a careful curation of antique household items and decorations. The shop also offers space for parties, a patio area and a cocktail bar.
Nebraska’s Josiah Allick (53) dunks against Lindenwood on Monday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Police Officer Pierce Krouse poses for a portrait Monday near the spot he rescued a woman who was holding onto a capsized kayak at Holmes Lake Park.
The SkyHawks dogpile on the floor following Omaha Skutt’s sweep of Norris in the Class B championship Saturday at the Devaney Sports Center.
S-E-M’s Taryn Arbuthnot (2) celebrates with Mikah O’Neill after a point against Amherst during Class D-1 championship on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Kearney Catholic players celebrate an ace serve by teammate Margaret Haarberg (2) in the second set during the Class Class C-1 championship match, on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Reflected in a support beam above the floor, Lincoln Lutheran faces off against Clarkson/Leigh in the fourth set during the Class Class C-2 championship match, on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.
Lincoln Southwest players, including Malayah Long (center right), celebrate the victory over Bellevue West in a Class A semifinal match Friday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A pass intended for Elkhorn South’s Luke Hoskinson (7) is broken up by Lincoln East’s Dash Bauman (6) in the first quarter during a Class A state quarterfinal game at Elkhorn High School, on Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, in Elkhorn.
Norris’ Anna Jelinek celebrates the victory against Bennington during a Class B semifinal match, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
The Nebraska State Capitol stands tall above the trees as two pedestrians walk side-by-side along Bison Trail on Friday at Pioneers Park in Lincoln.
Lincoln Lutheran celebrates the match against Elmwood-Murdock during a Class C-2 semifinal match, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Caden Connelly (left) hugs Jill Gable, whose son is a close friend of Connelly, as she arrives for a benefit dinner on Thursday. Connelly, who was diagnosed with with an incurable form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021, is running in the Good Life Halfsy on Sunday to raise money for pediatric oncology patients and their families.
Papillion-La Vista’s Mia Tvrdy (11) and Karlyn Francis (center) celebrate with teammates after their four set win over Papillion-La Vista South during a Class A first-round match, on Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Lincoln Southwest’s Abbie Appleget (21) defends the net as Lincoln Pius X’s Sidda Hagedorn hits the ball over in the second set of Wednesday’s first-round match at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Malcolm students Delaney Wollberg (center) and Tekamah Bratrsovsky (right) cheer during a Class C-1 first-round match between Malcolm and Pierce on Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Omaha Skutt, including Nicole Ott (8, center) and Brooke Banker (9, center left) celebrates a victory over Waverly during a Class B first-round match Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
A general view of the state volleyball tournament, including action from a Class B first-round match between Norris and Scottsbluff, Wednesday at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
Bryan McNeil, riding Julie Jean, nears the finish line on Tuesday during the first race at Legacy Downs at WarHorse in Lincoln. Julie Jean won the race over Inewagallikethat.
Parkgoers walk on a bridge at Holmes Lake Park surrounded by trees turning into fall colors Monday in Lincoln. The weather continued to be unseasonably cold on Monday, with a high reaching only into the mid-40s. Tuesday will be even colder, with a forecast high of only 37, which would be the coldest Halloween since 2017. A warmup will start on Wednesday, however, with highs reaching the 50s, then into the 60s on Friday and for the weekend.
Doane’s River Johnston battles for control of the ball against Nebraska’s Jamarques Lawrence in the first half during an exhibition match at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.
Nebraska’s Natalie Potts (22) grabs a rebound while boxing out Dakota Wesleyan’s Morgan Edelmam in the second quarter during an exhibition match at Pinnacle Bank Arena, on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023.
Nebraska’s Isaac Gifford celebrates his defensive play against Purdue in the third quarter, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, at Memorial Stadium.
Nebraska’s Thomas Fidone celebrates a second quarter touchdown with Emmett Johnson at Memorial Stadium, on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
Mason Iekel, 6, from Seward, wears an N face paint while also bundling up for his first Husker game as he walks outside of Memorial Stadium, on Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023.
A pass intended for Hastings’ Landon Hinrichs is broken up by Seward’s Sam Sagehorn in the first quarter on Friday at Bulldog Stadium in Seward.
Nebraska’s Ally Batenhorst (14) watches as she scores a kill past Maryland’s Sydney Dowler in the first set Friday, Oct. 27, 2023, at the Devaney Sports Center.