This browser does not support the Video element.
JEFFERSON COUNTY, Wis. - A Watertown man convicted in a drunk driving hit-and-run that killed a pedestrian last year has been sentenced to prison.
Prison sentence
In court:
The Jefferson County District Attorney's Office charged 55-year-old Jeffrey Redecker with three felonies, including homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. He pleaded no contest to two charges, and a third was dismissed as part of a plea deal in August.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
A Jefferson County judge sentenced Redecker to 25 years in prison followed by 25 years of extended supervision.
Jeffrey Redecker
Watertown hit-and-run
The backstory:
Watertown police were called to the area of 5th and Main. It was reported that a pedestrian was hit there around 12:40 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 21, 2025 – but officers found the victim near 2nd and Main.
Dig deeper:
Family members identified the victim as 35-year-old Cole Strohbusch. The married father of three later died from his injuries.
Cole Strohbusch
Police said a witness was waiting to pick up Strohbusch, and was recording a video when the driver of a pickup truck hit Strohbusch as he crossed the street. Strohbusch was wearing a neon green construction jacket. Police said he was dragged three blocks.
What they're saying:
In court, a police officer said investigators used license plate readers to track down Redecker's truck. When they went to Redecker's house three hours later, police said he was drunk. There was blood and pieces of the victim's jacket on the truck.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
"I could smell the odor of intoxicants coming from him. His responses were slow," the officer said.
A preliminary breath test for Redecker came back 0.121 – one-and-a-half times the legal limit to drive. Redecker said he did not know anyone was hit and "didn't even feel a bump."
The Source: Information in this post was provided by Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the criminal complaint associated with this case, and previous FOX6 News coverage.