Man drove into family out on walk, killing mom and dog, as an act of revenge

COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. — A Wisconsin man is facing multiple felony charges after prosecutors say he deliberately drove his vehicle into a family out for a walk, killing a mother and the family dog in what authorities described as an act of vigilante justice.

Jeffrey Endres, 49, was charged Monday with first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and mistreatment of animals causing death. The charges stem from an April 28 incident in which Endres allegedly accelerated his vehicle into Dr. Kami Hansen, her husband, one of their sons, and their dog as they walked along Landmark Drive in the Madison suburb of Cottage Grove.

Dr. Hansen, 43, a respected chiropractor and owner of Heartland Family Chiropractic, died from her injuries after being thrown 25 to 30 feet in the crash. The family dog, a black pit bull, was also killed. Her husband sustained minor injuries, while their son suffered a concussion and other injuries requiring surgery.

According to the criminal complaint, multiple eyewitnesses said Endres appeared to intentionally veer off the roadway and speed toward the family. One Uber driver reported seeing Endres’ vehicle “jerk” toward the sidewalk. Hansen’s husband also told police he heard the engine “flooring it” moments before the car jumped the curb and hit them.

Investigators say the act was not random. Dane County Deputy District Attorney William Brown told the court the deadly crash was motivated by a “sensitive crime” involving both families’ children. While officials have not disclosed the nature of the alleged crime, records show a school resource officer investigated an incident in March involving the two juveniles, and a court hearing followed on March 28.

Five days before the crash, Endres reportedly filed an open records request for the police reports related to the case. The documents were delivered to him less than three hours before the crash occurred.

Endres remained at the scene and allegedly told officers he was “having a bad day.” He later claimed he lost control of the vehicle while driving to a gas station, a statement authorities dispute based on witness accounts and evidence at the scene.

Endres is being held on a $1 million bond. If released, he would be prohibited from contacting the Hansen family, entering the Village of Cottage Grove, operating a vehicle, or consuming alcohol.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 14. If convicted of intentional homicide, Endres faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.