Courts

Competency exam to be given to Cole in La Crosse attempted homicide case

Published

5 months ago

November 29, 2023

Freeman Cole will get a competency exam to see if he can be tried for attempted murder for an attack on a woman inside a storage unit in La Crosse.

Cole’s attorney asked for the exam during a court hearing Wednesday. Judge Gloria Doyle granted the request.

Police said two passersby heard screams coming from a storage unit in the Fiesta Court area on Oct. 3. Those witnesses found Cole inside the unit, beating the victim.

Cole ran from the scene. He was arrested about a month later in Florida.

Cole was scheduled to have an evidence hearing Wednesday, when his defense attorney requested the examination.

Results will be reviewed at Cole’s Dec. 29 hearing.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.