In a chilling case from Wisconsin, a 25-year-old man already serving time for attempted murder has been sentenced to life in prison without the chance of parole, after he brutally killed his new cellmate in what authorities are calling a hate-fueled attack.
The Background of the Killer
Jackson Vogel was already serving a 20-year sentence at Green Bay Correctional Institution for trying to kill his own mother when he was just 16. After eight years in prison, Vogel was assigned a new cellmate — 19-year-old Micah Laureano, who was serving a short three-year sentence for assault and vehicle theft.
But within hours of arriving, Micah was dead.
A Cold-Blooded and Racist Killing
According to court records, Vogel strangled Laureano with a clothesline inside their prison cell. After the murder, he reportedly smiled and told investigators that he was “bored” and killed Micah because he was Black and believed to be gay. Vogel admitted the victim “checked all the boxes.”
Investigators also found a disturbing note in Vogel’s possession that said, “Kill all humans,” including hateful and graphic remarks targeting Black people and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
No Remorse, No Mercy
At his sentencing in Brown County Court, Vogel’s lawyer, Luke Harrison, tried to argue that people can change over time and asked the judge to consider supervised release in the distant future. Vogel also claimed he was sorry, even though he admitted he didn’t fully understand emotions like remorse.
Judge Donald Zuidmulder, however, was not convinced.
He directly addressed Vogel during sentencing, describing in detail how the murder was carried out and how coldly Vogel reacted afterward. The judge referred to Vogel as a “killing machine” and said there was no sign of change in his behavior during his years in prison.
The Final Sentence
Because Vogel was convicted of first-degree murder — which carries a mandatory life sentence in Wisconsin — the only decision left to the judge was whether he would allow the possibility of parole. Zuidmulder firmly denied it.
“You took the life of someone who had no connection to you. It was senseless, it was hateful, and it was terrifying,” the judge said before announcing that Vogel would never be allowed out of prison.
This tragic case is a reminder of how deeply hate and violence can destroy lives. A young man, Micah Laureano, lost his life just hours after arriving in a prison cell, simply for who he was. The judge’s strong statement and final verdict underline the seriousness of hate crimes and the need for justice that truly protects all people.
