Wisconsin Rapids Jury Acquits Son in Father’s Death Case

A Wood County jury delivered a not guilty verdict in one of the most closely watched trials in recent Wisconsin Rapids history. Randall Harris Jr., 34, walked free on February 17, 2026, after jurors accepted his claim of self-defense in the October 31, 2025 death of his father.

The case gripped the community for months. Harris Sr. was found in his basement with gunshot and machete wounds on Halloween night. His son admitted to the actions but maintained he was defending his own life.

After about four hours of deliberation starting around 3 PM, the jury chose to continue into the evening rather than adjourn. By 7 PM, they’d reached their decision.

A Trial Interrupted and Restarted

This wasn’t the first time a Wood County jury heard this case. The original trial began February 2, 2026, but ended abruptly two days later.

A Brady violation — when prosecutors withhold evidence from the defense — forced Judge to declare a mistrial. It’s a serious procedural error that can undermine the entire foundation of a fair trial.

The prosecution regrouped, and a week later, a completely new jury was seated. The second trial moved swiftly, with the defense resting Tuesday morning and closing arguments beginning immediately after.

Competing Stories in the Courtroom

Wood County District Attorney Jonathan Barnett painted Harris Jr. as deliberate and calculated. He pointed to blood on the defendant’s shirt and shoes, the relatively undisturbed downstairs bedroom, and Harris Sr.’s arthritis and disability.

Barnett argued the evidence showed Harris Jr. got his father to the floor in a localized area of violence. He emphasized that Harris Jr. ran from the scene, hid, and called family instead of police.

The prosecution’s theory: Harris Jr. emptied the gun’s magazine into his father to ensure he was dead, not to prevent his uncle from using the weapon.

Defense attorney Oren Jakobson countered with a different narrative entirely. He walked jurors through the nuances of self-defense law — simple, perfect, and imperfect versions that apply in different circumstances.

Using a courtroom demonstration, Jakobson showed how much could happen in just one minute. He reminded jurors that multiple witnesses testified to the good relationship between father and son, and to fights between Harris Sr. and Jr.’s uncle.

The jury must consider the circumstances and beliefs Harris Jr. held in those terrifying moments, not judge with the clarity of hindsight.

What the Evidence Showed

The crime scene told a complex story. Harris Sr. suffered both gunshot wounds and injuries from a machete. The violence occurred primarily in one area of the basement.

Harris Jr.’s uncle was present in the home, found in his underwear — a detail prosecutors used to argue he couldn’t have hidden stolen money as Harris Jr. claimed. The upstairs and downstairs areas of the home showed different levels of disturbance.

Key evidence the jury had to weigh:

• Blood evidence on Harris Jr.’s clothing and footwear
• The father’s physical limitations due to arthritis and disability
• Harris Jr.’s admitted delay in calling authorities
• Witness testimony about family dynamics and relationships
• The defendant’s own emotional state regarding his father’s drug use

Harris Jr. took the stand on Day 6, a risky move that defense attorneys often counsel against. His testimony provided his version of the chaotic moments that led to his father’s death.

Self-Defense in Northwoods Homes

This verdict highlights the complicated nature of self-defense claims, especially in family violence situations. Rural communities across the Northwoods face unique challenges when it comes to domestic incidents.

Isolation can intensify family conflicts. When help is miles away, residents sometimes feel they must resolve dangerous situations themselves. That doesn’t make the outcomes any less tragic.

Wisconsin Rapids sits at the southern edge of what many consider Northwoods territory. It’s a mill town along the Wisconsin River where families have deep roots and complicated histories.

The economic pressures facing manufacturing communities — job losses, mill closures, shifting industries — can strain households. Add substance abuse issues, and you’ve got a powder keg.

A Community Watches and Waits

For the Harris family, there are no winners here. A father is dead, a son faced life imprisonment, and the trauma ripples outward through relatives and friends.

The jury’s decision came down to one central question: Did Randall Harris Jr. genuinely believe his life was in danger that Halloween night? Twelve Wood County residents concluded that he did.

Harris Jr. was released from his bond conditions immediately following the verdict. The charges he faced — first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety — would have meant life in prison if convicted.

Cases like this remind us that the Northwoods, for all its natural beauty and tight-knit communities, isn’t immune to the darker aspects of human nature. Family violence crosses every boundary — economic, geographic, and social.

Looking Ahead for Wisconsin Rapids

The trial’s conclusion brings legal closure but not necessarily emotional healing. Wisconsin Rapids will move forward as it always does, with quiet resilience characteristic of communities built around hard work and natural resources.

The case may influence future discussions about domestic violence resources in Wood County. Mental health services, crisis intervention, and substance abuse treatment remain critical needs throughout the region.

For those who followed the trial closely, the verdict serves as a reminder that justice isn’t always tidy. Twelve jurors heard evidence, applied the law, and reached a conclusion that not everyone will agree with.

That’s the system working as designed, even when the outcome feels unsatisfying. In the Northwoods, we understand that life rarely offers simple answers to complicated questions.