Two suspects in 2021 La Crosse triple homicide quarry shooting make separate court appearances

Could a DNA sample from a La Crosse County murder suspect connect him to a gun found close to the crime scene?

Circuit Court Judge Elliott Levine gave the state permission Wednesday to obtain a genetic sample from Nya Thao, one of two men accused of killing three others in 2021 at a quarry near West Salem.

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke said the gun in question was discovered near the quarry just last month.

Thao’s attorney, Aaron Nelson, questioned in court whether DNA evidence would help the state prove its case.

Thao will be tried in June.

The other suspect, Khamthaneth Rattanasack, was scheduled to reach a plea agreement Wednesday, but that hearing is being postponed until after the Thao trial.

Gruenke said there are more details to work out on a plea for Rattansack.

Both men face three homicide counts for the shooting deaths of Nemo Yang, Peng Lor and Trevor Maloney.

Authorities claim the reasoning for the murders was over $600 owed to Rattanasack by one of the victims.