GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Testimony continued in the murder trial against James Prokopovitz, the man accused of killing his wife Victoria, who has been missing since 2013.
The trial resumed after it was suspended last week when Judge Timothy Hinkfuss broke his ankle in a fall. Judge William Atkinson took over Monday.
Among those testifying Monday were Victoria’s psychiatrist, cast doubt on the defense’s argument that it’s more likely she committed suicide.
“This patient was parasuicidal,” former Prevea Health Psychiatrist Dr. Ashraf Ahmed testified. “In multiple episodes in her life, she would entertain the thought [of suicide], but to cross that line is a different story.”
Dr. Ahmed said that, during their last appointment, Victoria claimed that James was abusive, and spoke of feelings of isolation, but not that she intended to kill herself. He added in his notes that she was doing “exceptionally well” under the circumstances.
Also on the stand was Brown County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Roman Aronstein who testified that it’s not likely Victoria would have left the house alone, as she didn’t have access to a car. Victoria’s purse, dentures, cigarettes, and phone were found in her home. Aronstein painted a bleak picture of her life before her disappearance, saying she had very few personal contacts. She had 41 contacts in her cell phone, most of which were either disconnected numbers and local businesses, but those that weren’t said they had been out of contact with her for years.
“Very telling that a number of these individuals were aware of and knew Mrs. Prokopovitz, but hadn’t communicated with her in years and in some instances in over a decade,” he said.
Her body has never been found.
Also testifying today was a person identified in court records only as “Witness Number One”. The substance of their testimony hasn’t been made public, and no cameras or recording equipment was allowed in the courtroom during their testimony.
