Desperate Measures
Episode of 48 Hours · May 14, 2026 · 41 min
Peter Van Sant reports on the 2010 shooting deaths of Dennis and Merna Koula in Wisconsin and the circumstantial murder case against their son Eric.
Summary
The episode, a rebroadcast of a 2013 "48 Hours" report by Peter Van Sant, examined the May 2010 murders of Dennis and Merna Koula, a wealthy couple found shot in their home near La Crosse, Wisconsin, by their son Eric. Investigator John Christofferson described a scene with untouched valuables and oddly searched drawers, and explained how Merna's last keystroke on her computer fixed the time of death at 5:41 p.m. on May 21. An early mistaken-identity lead involving death threats against neighboring banker Steve Burgess was ruled out when the threat-maker was found to have an alibi.
Suspicion shifted to Eric Koula after investigators found he had deposited a $50,000 check from his father the day after the killings, that he was broke after losing nearly $700,000 day trading, and that he did not appear on store surveillance video during the time he said he was shopping. Pharmacy coworker Helen Van Roo and uncle Leroy Koula said Dennis planned to cut off his children financially. Eric was arrested after an interrogation in which he was told the check signature was forged.
At the 2012 trial, Eric admitted he had signed his father's name on the check and had written the threatening "Fixed you" note he claimed to find in his mailbox. Prosecutor Tim Gruenke argued financial motive and a pattern of lies; the defense, including Keith Belzer and Jim Koby, stressed the absence of physical evidence, revived the hitman theory with expert Max Scott, and argued the family's finances were stable. Eric's wife Christine and son Dexter maintained his innocence, while his sister Cindy came to believe he was guilty.
The jury convicted Eric of first-degree intentional homicide and forgery, and Judge Scott Horne sentenced him to life without parole. Eric vowed to keep fighting to prove his innocence, and a Wisconsin court later ruled he could not inherit from his parents' estate.
Chapters
- 0:05
Discovery of the bodies
Eric Koula and Cindy describe the morning their parents were found shot dead in their La Crosse-area home.
- 2:32
Touring the crime scene
Investigator John Christofferson walks through the house, noting untouched valuables and drawers searched bottom-up.
- 9:42
The mistaken-identity lead
A neighboring banker's death threats and a Google Earth mix-up suggest the killer may have targeted the wrong house.
- 11:41
The keystroke and the alibis
Merna's last keystroke fixes the time of death, and family members' alibis are checked.
- 15:14
The note and the $50,000 check
Eric reports a threatening note while investigators discover he deposited a check from his father after the murders.
- 19:12
Financial collapse and a cutoff
Investigators learn Eric was broke after day-trading losses and that Dennis planned to cut off his children.
- 22:05
Alibi gap, interrogation and arrest
Eric is missing from store surveillance video, is confronted about a forged signature, and is arrested.
- 26:33
Prosecution's case
Prosecutors present a financial motive and Eric admits forging the check on the stand.
- 29:42
Defense's case
The defense cites a lack of physical evidence, reveals Eric wrote the note, and revives the hitman theory.
- 36:25
Verdict and sentencing
Eric is convicted, family members react, and he is sentenced to life without parole while maintaining innocence.
Key points
What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.
- John Christofferson
Christofferson believed the killer was lying in wait, prepared to execute the couple.
“This was somebody that was lying in wait for them, prepared to execute them”
- John Christofferson
Christofferson noted that the dresser drawers were searched bottom-up, which he said is not how real burglars behave.
“they're indicating that they go to the bottom drawer first, pull it out, shuffle through it, then pull out the next drawer, and so forth, going up”
- John Christofferson
Christofferson said a forensic computer expert found Merna's last keystroke was at 5:41 p.m. on May 21.
“her last keystroke on that computer was at 5.41 p.m. on May 21st”
- John Christofferson
Christofferson argued that Eric never asked for help for his parents during the 911 call.
“once you take the time to listen to the 911 call, you realize that Eric never asks for help”
- Eric Koula
Eric Koula attributed the loss of his money to the financial crisis stock market crash.
“We went through one of the worst stock market episodes since the Great Depression. I lost it”
- Helen Van Roo
Helen Van Roo said Dennis told her he was cutting off his children financially that week.
“He had told me that day that he was telling his kids that week that he was cutting off his kids”
- John Christofferson
Christofferson said Eric's absence from the Shopko surveillance footage opened a window in which he could have killed his parents.
“it now opens up that period of his timeline where he has the opportunity to get to his parents' house and kill them”
- Eric Koula
Eric Koula testified that he had signed his father's name on hundreds of checks over the years.
“I've signed my dad's signature on hundreds and hundreds of checks. From personal, paying bills at the house, to at the store when we had double signature checks”
- Eric Koula
Eric Koula admitted writing the 'Fixed you' note himself, saying he wanted investigators to leave his family alone.
“I just wanted them to leave me and my family alone”
- Eric Koula
At sentencing, Eric Koula maintained his innocence and vowed to keep fighting.
“I'm gonna go on and continue to fight for my innocence and prove that I'm innocent, to show people that I did not do this”
People
In the conversation
- Peter Van SantCBS News "48 Hours" correspondent who narrated and conducted interviews for the episode
- John ChristoffersonLead investigator, then a Wisconsin Department of Justice special agent assisting the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department
- Eric KoulaSon of Dennis and Merna Koula, former day trader convicted of their murders
- Cindy KowalDaughter of Dennis and Merna Koula and younger sister of Eric Koula
- Christine KoulaWife of Eric Koula
- Tim GruenkeLa Crosse County District Attorney who prosecuted Eric Koula (label also briefly captures friend Mike Gens)
- Jim KobyLead defense attorney for Eric Koula, heard in interview and courtroom footage
- Helen Van RooPharmacy technician who worked with Dennis Koula and last saw him alive
- Dexter KoulaSon of Eric Koula
- Patrick KowalHusband of Cindy Kowal
- Max ScottDefense forensic expert in crime scene reconstruction
Discussed
- Dennis KoulaWealthy La Crosse, Wisconsin, businessman and pharmacist murdered in 2010
- Merna KoulaSubstitute teacher murdered with her husband Dennis in 2010
- Steve BurgessNeighboring bank president who had received death threats
- Leroy KoulaDennis Koula's brother who testified Dennis planned to cut off his children
- Gary FreibergCo-prosecutor in the Eric Koula trial
- Mike GensFriend Eric Koula helped with tiling on the day of the murders
Topics
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From the publisher
In May 2010, wealthy married couple, Dennis and Merna Koula, were found shot dead in their Wisconsin home. There was little evidence from the crime scene, but one clue - computer keystroke - became critical. And one person who knew the couple very well would become the prime suspect. "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant reports. This classic "48 Hours" episode last aired on 8/3/2013. Watch all-new episodes of “48 Hours” on Saturdays and stream on demand on Paramount+.
Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 28, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.