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Who Was Timothy Mumbrue & What Happened to Him? 2025 Update & Background

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Tony Haase is a lifelong resident of Weyauwega, Wisconsin, a small town in central Wisconsin not far from the scene of a grisly 1992 double homicide that would later engulf his life. At the time of his arrest in 2022, Haase was 51 years old and working at Waupaca Foundry. Those who knew him described him as a quiet, gentle man with no known criminal history. For most of his adult life, Haase lived under the radar—working, raising a family, and avoiding trouble.

His past included a traumatic childhood event: when he was about seven years old, his father died in a snowmobile accident that involved Tanna Togstad’s father, a fact that later became central to prosecutors’ theory about his motive in the case. For thirty years, Haase remained outside the public eye, until a cold case investigation unexpectedly brought him into the spotlight.

Arrest and Charges in a Cold Case

In 2022, the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Department reopened the unsolved murders of Tanna Togstad and Tim Mumbrue, both stabbed to death in March 1992. A tip from the daughter of a former suspect prompted investigators to revisit old evidence. They arranged a traffic stop involving Haase, collecting DNA from a pen he used to sign a citation. The DNA was tested and, according to authorities, matched samples collected from the crime scene.

Haase was brought in for questioning and allegedly confessed during a long interrogation. He spoke of fragmented memories, a drunken night, and feelings linked to his father’s death. He said he had always feared he might have had something to do with the murders but claimed he couldn’t fully recall what happened. Based on the confession, DNA evidence, and a bloody handprint found at the scene, Haase was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide.

Trial and Acquittal

Tony Haase stood trial in the summer of 2025. Prosecutors leaned heavily on DNA evidence and Haase’s statements during the police interview, describing him as the only possible match. The odds of another person matching the DNA were said to be one in 281 quintillion. They claimed the motive was rooted in long-standing resentment tied to the snowmobile accident that killed his father.

Haase’s defense team, however, argued that the DNA evidence was tainted by years of mishandling and degradation. They also contended that the confession was unreliable, a product of psychological pressure and faulty interrogation techniques. The defense identified another possible suspect—Haase’s uncle, who had a violent past and lived nearby but died in 1995.

On August 11, 2025, after more than three days of deliberation, the jury found Tony Haase not guilty on all charges. He was released from custody the same day. The verdict deeply disappointed the families of the victims, who had waited decades for justice. Haase’s attorneys described the result as a testament to the jury’s careful review of the evidence and praised the jurors for resisting emotional pressure.

Where Is Tony Haase Now?

As of now, Tony Haase is a free man. Following his acquittal in Waupaca County Circuit Court, he returned to private life, though likely under the burden of intense public scrutiny. Despite being cleared of all criminal charges, he now faces a civil lawsuit filed by the family of Tanna Togstad, which seeks $17 million in damages for wrongful death and emotional suffering.

Haase has until mid-September 2025 to file a formal response to the lawsuit. If the case moves forward, it will be tried under civil court standards, where the burden of proof is lower than in criminal court. Whether Haase chooses to countersue, settle, or fight the case in court remains to be seen.

While Haase has not made public statements since the verdict, his attorneys have consistently maintained his innocence and criticized the state’s case against him. He continues to live in Wisconsin, likely still in or near Weyauwega, although his future may depend on the outcome of the ongoing civil proceedings.

For now, Tony Haase is legally innocent of the murders, though public opinion and legal challenges may continue to define his life long after the criminal trial ended.

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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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