TAYLOR COUNTY, Wis. – An Athens man has been convicted for his involvement in operating a meth lab that led to the death of a woman.
Matthew Zarins, 51, appeared in Taylor County Circuit Court on Wednesday for a plea hearing. He pleaded guilty to homicide by negligent use of a dangerous weapon as part of a plea agreement, while four other charges related to manufacturing meth were dismissed. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 18.
The victim, Jennifer Johnson, 51, died at a Madison hospital on Jan. 12, 2023, after suffering severe burns. Authorities revealed that she had burns on 85% of her body, and Zarins also received treatment for burns. The fire was reported on Jan. 11, 2023, at a property in the town of Maplehurst.
According to the criminal complaint, authorities found numerous items consistent with manufacturing methamphetamine in and outside the property. During an interview with investigators, Zarins claimed that he was attempting to start a fire with wet wood, and they escaped through a window.
Court documents revealed that special investigators tested a plastic bottle and hose found outside the property, and the hose tested positive for hydrochloric acid, a necessary ingredient in the manufacturing of methamphetamine. In an interview, Zarins denied any involvement in the manufacturing of methamphetamine but admitted to smoking methamphetamine five days prior when questioned by authorities.
Zarins’s guilty plea marks a step toward closure for the family of Jennifer Johnson and highlights the dangers associated with methamphetamine production. The upcoming sentencing hearing will provide an opportunity for the court to consider the impact of Zarins’s actions on the community and determine an appropriate punishment.