In true-crime story fashion, a 37-year-old woman recently pled guilty to being the getaway driver—and spotlight operator—for a group of teenagers who illegally poached over 100 deer across three Wisconsin counties.
According to WLUK, Jessica Kroening admitted to helping the teens cruise around at night, spotlighting deer from her Chevy Malibu while the boys used family-owned rifles to take shots from the front seat. Not exactly Leave No Trace. The whole scheme unraveled after a bad smell led officers to a trash bag full of decapitated deer heads behind her home.
Once things started falling apart, Kroening tried to cover their tracks—literally—by tossing a teen’s phone into the river and handing over rifles with the serial numbers freshly scratched off. Not suspicious at all…
Police found bloody knives, saws, floormats, and even a busted-up spotlight in her car. It was essentially a mobile crime scene kit.
Poaching isn’t just illegal—it’s reckless, cruel, and damaging to wildlife and the ethical hunters who play by the rules. Whether it’s in Wisconsin or right here in Montana, this kind of stuff just doesn’t fly. Conservation laws exist for a reason: to protect the wildlife we all value and the traditions we’re proud of. So let’s keep it clean, legal, and respectful—because wildlife management isn’t just a suggestion, it’s a responsibility!
Photo credit: Washington County Jail
