By Mark Gunderman
The Chippewa Herald
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, Wis. — William Andru Ball was found dead in his cell at the Chippewa County Jail early Sunday morning, 10 days after he was convicted of first degree intentional homicide for the killing of Kyle Ryba.
The Chippewa Falls Police Department is investigating the death. Few details had been released as of Monday morning.
Chippewa County Sheriff Jim Kowalczyk said Sunday that he was informed an inmate at the jail was found unresponsive at 6:05 a.m. Jail officers went to the cell and found the inmate in his assigned bed. He failed to react to verbal commands and to physical stimulation. Closer examination found he was cold to the touch and had obviously died.
Kowalczyk confirmed Monday morning that the inmate was Ball.
Chippewa County Coroner Ron Patten was contacted and an autopsy is scheduled for early this week.
The information released on the death gives no indication if there were any obvious signs of trauma or foul play.
Kowalczyk said a meeting with Chippewa Falls Police Department investigators was planned for Monday morning and further information will be released as the investigation continues.
Ball, 22, was convicted of the April 2, 2010 killing of Ryba at a village of Boyd home. There was never any doubt from the beginning of the investigation into the murder that Ball was the killer. Witnesses said he left the residence, went out to his car and started it, then came back in the house. He had armed himself with a handgun.
Ball’s estranged wife, Stephanie Ball, was sitting on a love seat with her legs over the lap of Ryba. William Ball appeared to be leaving when Stephanie Ball asked if he was going to say goodbye to their daughter, who was also at the residence.
William Ball said he was not going to say goodbye. Stephanie Ball said, “I’ll remember that.” William Ball then said, “You’ll remember this,” and turned and opened fire.
Ball fired 12 shots, with 11 hitting Ryba. Stephanie Ball was wounded in the leg by one shot.
The defense at the murder trial that started April 4 argued for a conviction for second degree intentional homicide, claiming William Ball had “adequate provocation” for the shooting. The jury returned a verdict of first degree murder.
William Ball was facing life in prison for the conviction, with whether he would be eligible for parole the only major issue at a June 1 sentencing.
Republished with permission from The Chippewa Herald