OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Andrew Clark was sentenced Tuesday to back-to-back life sentences with no chance for parole for killing his wife and a witness to her murder.
Clark shot and killed his wife, Melissa Clark, and another man, Lavar Wallace, at an Omro home on Oct. 21, 2020. A jury convicted him of two counts of first-degree intentional homicide.
Before the sentence was issued, Clark, 54, said the shooting of his wife was accidental, not intentional. And he claimed another man in the home, Michael Draine, was the one who killed Wallace.
Judge John Jorgensen said the jury heard Clark’s arguments and rejected them.
“I view this as cruel and cold-hearted murders. What happened on Oct. 21, 2020, ended the life of two people who were very close to you, and you did it in a very up close and personal manner,” Judge Jorgensen said.
Draine told police he and Wallace were in a room together when they heard gunshots, then discovered Clark holding the gun and his wife dead. Subsequently, Clark shot and killed Wallace.
Draine then helped Clark try to cover up the murders by dousing her body with gasoline. Draine said Clark gave him some money and items to dispose of. Based on Draine’s description, police found a gun matching the size of shell casings from the scene, case and drugs, according to the criminal complaint.
Since the charges were filed, however, prosecutors say additional investigation led to the determination Draine should not be prosecuted, and charges against him were dropped.
