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Who Was Tanna Togstad & What Happened to Her? 2025 Update & Background

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Tanna Togstad was a 23-year-old woman living in Weyauwega, a small rural town in central Wisconsin. Known to those around her as warm, kind, and gentle, she was part of a close-knit family and community. Tanna was the daughter of Helen Hoffman and had at least one sibling, her brother Richard Togstad, who has remained a steadfast voice in her memory over the decades.

In 1992, Tanna was in a relationship with 35-year-old Timothy Mumbrue. The couple shared a home, along with Tanna’s dog, Scruffy. Friends and family described their lives as simple and grounded—typical for young adults in rural America. They had no known enemies and were not involved in any criminal activity. The events of March 1992 would forever alter the course of their lives—and of an entire community.

The 1992 Murders

On March 22, 1992, police were called to Tanna’s home, where they discovered a horrific scene. Both Tanna and Timothy had been brutally stabbed to death. Tanna had suffered a single fatal stab wound to her chest and had been sexually assaulted. Her dog Scruffy had also been killed. Timothy Mumbrue had been stabbed close to 27 times, including a wound so severe that it penetrated his skull.

The violence shocked investigators and residents alike. Law enforcement officials described the killings as personal and frenzied. There were no immediate suspects, and over time, the case grew cold despite continued investigative efforts. The lack of resolution left a lasting mark on Tanna’s family, who carried the pain of her unsolved murder for more than 30 years.

A Renewed Investigation

In 2022, decades after the murders, investigators received a new tip from the daughter of a man who had long been considered a possible suspect. That led them to Tony Haase, a Weyauwega resident with no criminal history. Investigators collected a DNA sample from Haase using a pen during a staged traffic stop. The DNA, they said, matched evidence from Tanna’s body.

Haase was interrogated and, according to prosecutors, made statements implicating himself in the murders. He described hazy memories, or “snippets,” that included going to Tanna’s home in a drunken state and getting into a physical altercation. He also referenced past trauma related to the death of his own father, who died in a snowmobile accident involving Tanna’s father years earlier.

Haase was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. His arrest provided the family with a moment of relief after years of unanswered questions. But that relief would be short-lived.

Trial and Acquittal

Tony Haase’s trial began in July 2025. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence, the alleged confession, and a bloody handprint found at the scene. They argued the forensic match was so specific that the chance of another person matching was one in 281 quintillion.

Defense attorneys countered with claims of contaminated evidence, flawed lab procedures, and coercive interrogation tactics. They also presented an alternative theory—that the murders may have been committed by Haase’s uncle, a violent man with a history of killing animals who died in 1995. Another potential suspect named during the trial was convicted killer Glendon Gouker, who once claimed involvement in the case.

After nearly a monthlong trial and over three days of deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of not guilty on August 11, 2025. The decision devastated Tanna’s family, who believed the evidence against Haase was overwhelming. Richard Togstad, who attended every day of the trial, said the verdict left him numb and in disbelief.

Legacy and Civil Suit

Despite the criminal acquittal, Tanna Togstad’s story did not end in the courtroom. On August 20, 2025, just days after the verdict, her brother filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Haase, seeking nearly $17 million in damages. The civil suit aims to hold Haase accountable using a lower burden of proof—”preponderance of the evidence” rather than “beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The complaint alleges that Tanna did not die instantly and experienced severe pain in her final moments. It also highlights the lasting trauma endured by her family, including her mother, Helen Hoffman, who passed away two days after Haase’s 2022 arrest.

For over three decades, the name Tanna Togstad has been tied to one of Wisconsin’s most haunting unsolved cases. Although the criminal courts have spoken, her family continues to fight for a form of justice they feel has eluded them. Tanna’s life, cut short in a moment of violence, is remembered through their ongoing efforts and the retelling of her story in programs like Dateline NBC’s “Raising the Dead.”

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Ryan Gill

Ryan is a passionate follower of true crime television programs, reporting on and providing in-depth investigations on mysteries in the criminal world.

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