Client Kills Wisconsin Realtor

Wisconsin Real Estate Agent, 71, Is Killed by Client During Showing, Police Say

A convicted sex offender was charged Thursday with killing a 71-year-old real estate agent whose body was found near a smoldering mattress in a home she had been showing him.

The criminal complaint alleges that James A. Hole choked Ann B. Nelson with her scarf and beat her with a fireplace poker Tuesday after she said something he didn't like, then set the house on fire with the still-conscious grandmother of 16 inside.

Hole, 34, of Brookfield, Ill., was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, arson and burglary. Bond was set at $1 million and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for April 4. He had not been assigned a public defender as of Thursday afternoon....