Pertgen v. State

OPINION

Appellant Wes Joseph Pertgen brutally murdered his landlord, who was found shot, stabbed, beaten and bound in a refrigerator. He also kidnapped, beat and raped a woman, who was found in a drainage ditch, chained and covered with sagebrush. He was convicted of first-degree murder with use of a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, sexual assault with use of a deadly weapon, attempted murder with use of a deadly weapon, and possession of a firearm by an ex-felon. For committing these crimes, Pertgen was sentenced to death, and in addition, to four…