Brantner Arrest Another Step In Berit Beck Case

Fond du Lac County Sheriff Mick Fink says their investigation into the 1990 murder of 18-year-old Berit Beck of Sturtevant is far from over, but they believe they’ve arrested the man responsible. Sixty-one-year-old Dennis Brantner of Kenosha is that man. According to the criminal complaint his fingerprints match items touched in Beck’s van before it was discovered in a Kmart parking lot in Fond du Lac in July of 1990. Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney says they wouldn’t proceed with a 1st degree murder charge if they didn’t think they had enough evidence. Beck’s body was found six weeks after she went missing in a ditch outside of Waupun. Sheriff Fink says they notified the Beck’s of Brantner’s arrest minutes after it happened. Fink says there’s no cause to celebrate in the cold case. During an interview with Sheriff’s detectives in March of last year Brantner said he did not kill Beck then said he didn’t know and began crying. He also stated he’s not going back to prison. Sheriff Fink says his jail staff will be keeping a close eye on Brantner. Bond was set at $1 million cash when Brantener made his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County Court this afternoon on a 1st degree murder charge. Hear the press conference. (Pictured above l-r; District Attorney Eric Toney, Sheriff Mick Fink, Deputy District Attorney Dennis Krueger)