Mark Jensen is being re-tried in the anti-freeze poisoning death of his wife Julie. Today was the 9th day of his trial and wraps up week two. Today was an important day for the prosecution.

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Meredith Perez, a former co-worker of Mark Jensen took the stand today. She was called out of order because she was only available today. She testified that she never saw any pornographic letters sent to Mark or received any harassing phone call as Mark had asserted at one point.

Stacey Bauer, a former co-worker of Mark Jensen testified, as many have, they they were told by Ed Klub that Mark Jensen talked about killing his wife. When she heard of Julie’s death, she said “He killer her!”

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Forensic Toxicologist Joseph Crifasi took the stand to tell the jury that he found ethylene glycol in Julie Jensen’s by using a gas chromatograph mass spectrometer.

Alison Kavanaugh, an employee of American Family Insurance, life division took the stand. She testified that Julie Jensen took out two life insurance policies on herself, both for $50,000. She purchased these in 1992 and 1995. Mark was the primary beneficiary for both and Mark also had life insurance. Mark didn’t initiate the notification of death, the company did.

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Julie’s lover, Perry Tarica took the stand today. He asked Special Prosecutor Bob Jambois not to be on TV. Jambois asked the judge, who has sole authority to grant permission for photography and audio. He permitted audio, but disallowed photos and video of Tarica.

Tarica testified that he met Julie at Dean Witter Reynolds, where the two worked together. The two became very close and one day Julie asked Tarica to come over to her home with her son David, who was about one year old. Mark Jensen was out of town working. Tarica brought toys for David and they ate dinner. Tarica was going to go home, but Julie asked him to stay. Over the next two days, the two would have sexual intercourse. Julie played a tape recorder of herself for Tarica and thought Mark was recording her. Some time later, when asked who was putting the pornographic photos around the house Julie told Tarica “It was Mark! He’s weird and strange. When asked if the two had oral sex, he said he couldn’t remember and then said “No. I don’t like [receiving] oral sex.” Julie broke off the sexual affair shortly after this weekend. Eventually she told Tarica that she didn’t want any contact with him. He sent her a letter and a Christmas card. He was then called by a Pleasant Prairie Police officer who was upset that he sent the card because at first Tarica lied to the Sergeant. The Sergeant then mailed a harassment citation to Tarica. He never paid it and there was a warrant put out for his arrest. Bob Jambois, the Special Prosecutor at the time canceled the ticket and warrant for Tarica. When asked if he ever harassed Julie, he said loudly “Absolutely not! I loved her!”

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After Tarica was dismissed, myself and other journalists went outside to speak with Tarica. Two television producers spoke with Tarica at length. Photographer Nathan DeBruin and I took a few photos of Tarica. He then told me to stop taking his photo. I then explained that he was in public so there was nothing wrong with what I was doing, but I did stop taking photos. As he passed me, he shouted obscenities at me. He then challenged me to a fight, which I politely declined.

Jason Ruff, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Bureau of Criminal Investigation digital forensic analyst took the stand again, and surprisingly, there were more penis photos. Dozens of them.

Joan Scully testified in 2007-2008 that she worked with Mark Jensen at Robert Baird. She opened the mail there and did not remember seeing any harassing or pornographic letters or take similar phone calls. Jurors watched this testimony as Scully was unavailable under state statute.

Jurors watched the 2006-2007 testimony of the late Marion Pacetti, a former neighbor of the Jensens. She was in Julie’s book club and said Julie was always a great host. She also saw Julie’s clothes being discarded days after her death. She passed away in 2018 at the age of 94.

Aaron Dillard has been in and out of jail and prison his entire life. He is a liar, says the prosecution and the defense. He testified that he got out of prison as a reward for testifying in the first trial. He is getting a similar deal for testifying this time as well. He gave his lawyer a detailed letter in 2006 explaining what Mark had allegedly told him when the two were in the same cell block at the Kenosha County Jail. He asked his lawyer if his testifying would help his case.

He alleged that Jensen confessed to putting anti-freeze in Julie’s juice multiple times. He gave her ambien to help her sleep through the symptoms and eventually sat on her back and smothered her in her pillow.

The defense will have a chance to cross-examine Dillard on Monday.