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View resultsUnhinged Killer Denies Drugs Were Hers, Doesn't Realize Cops Have Evidence
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2026-10-22 18:34:56 EDT First saved
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Title
Unhinged Killer Denies Drugs Were Hers, Doesn't Realize Cops Have Evidence
Description
Watch this police interrogation with intense raw interrogation from the interrogation room as police conduct a full interrogation of a suspect. This raw interrogation footage captures every moment of the suspect interview, complete with deception detection techniques, and criminal psychology in true JCS style interrogation.
The Background
April Hardegen (age approximately 30 in 2021), of New London, Wisconsin, and Aaron Van Dyke (age approximately 31), also of New London, worked together to traffic illegal drugs, including heroin, from Milwaukee to Waupaca County for resale. They made numerous trips to Milwaukee.
Victims were Kendra Rateau (age 24, New London) and Jordan May (age 33, Lind, Wisconsin).
At the time of her June 2021 arrest, Hardegen was out on bond for prior drug and child neglect charges from 2020. Online records referenced theft, drunk driving, and drug charges dating back to 2009.
The Crime
On or about April 20, 2021, Hardegen supplied heroin and fentanyl to Kendra Rateau (indicated by phone records).
On April 22, 2021, New London police responded to a welfare check at Rateau’s apartment after she had missed work for two days. Officers found her dead; heroin, methamphetamine, and drug paraphernalia were present. An autopsy confirmed death from an overdose of heroin and fentanyl.
On May 30, 2021, Waupaca County deputies responded to a potential overdose at Jordan May’s home in Lind. He was found unresponsive; a syringe was present. He was temporarily revived with Narcan, airlifted, declared brain dead on June 1, and removed from life support on June 5. The heroin involved was traced through intermediaries to Hardegen.
The drugs in both cases were reported as laced with fentanyl. No verified evidence of additional calculated planning or evidence tampering beyond the trafficking activity was detailed in available reports.
The Investigation
New London police and Waupaca County deputies had previously developed intelligence, including controlled buys, that Hardegen and Van Dyke were bringing illegal substances into Waupaca County for resale.
Tips linked Hardegen and Van Dyke to supplying Rateau; a review of Rateau’s phone indicated the April 20 supply.
For May’s overdose, a chain of statements from buyers indicated the heroin came from Hardegen.
Hardegen told investigators she and Van Dyke had been trafficking illegal drugs for some time via trips to Milwaukee and admitted to supplying the heroin involved in both overdose deaths.
Hardegen and Van Dyke were taken into custody on June 2, 2021. A third individual, Demargieon Hillard-Carter (Milwaukee), was also charged; his residence was searched and drugs, weapons, and cash were seized.
Conviction and Sentencing
Formally charged on June 10, 2021, in Waupaca County Circuit Court. Initial charges against Hardegen included first-degree recklessly endangering safety and manufacturing or delivering up to 3 grams of heroin.
On February 24, 2022, before Waupaca County Judge Raymond Huber, Hardegen entered guilty pleas to two counts of first-degree reckless homicide as a party to a crime, one count of felony delivery of heroin, and two counts of felony child neglect.
Sentenced on or about June 30–July 1, 2022, to six years in prison and four years of extended supervision.
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