Murders of Dennis and Merna Koula
Event in True Crime
Murders of Dennis and Merna Koula has come up in 1 episode across 1 podcast in TMT, including 48 Hours. 2 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
John ChristoffersonLead investigator, then a Wisconsin Department of Justice special agent assisting the La Crosse County Sheriff's Department
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”
48 Hours: Desperate Measures (May 14, 2026) · Listen from 17:45
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”
48 Hours: Desperate Measures (May 14, 2026) · Listen from 9:12
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”
48 Hours: Desperate Measures (May 14, 2026) · Listen from 2:24
Helen Van RooPharmacy technician who worked with Dennis Koula and last saw him alive
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”
48 Hours: Desperate Measures (May 14, 2026) · Listen from 21:51
Podcasts
- 48 Hours · 1 episode
Episodes
Desperate Measures48 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.