Kami Hansen left for an evening walk with her family on April 28, 2025, blissfully unaware she’d never return home. While walking with her husband and one of their sons, a man reportedly drove into the family, killing Hansen and the dog. The driver, Jeffrey Endres, 49, stayed at the scene and allegedly told police he lost control of the car. An investigation unearthed a more sinister scheme, but days after his arrest, the suspect died in jail.
According to a stament from the Cottage Grove Police Department, Hansen and her family were walking in the 1300 block of Landmark Drive in the Village of Cottage Grove near Madison, Wisconsin, around 6:30 p.m. April 28. Endres allegedly crashed into the family, killing the dog at the scene and injuring Hansen, her husband, and son. Sadly, the mother of three succumbed to her injuries at an area hospital. Her husband and son were treated and released.
“We again wish to express our deepest sympathies and support to the Village of Cottage Grove community during this tragic event. We encourage the community to come together to support each other as needed during this difficult time,” Lieutenant Matthew Wagner shared in the police department’s statement.
Following the crash, police launched an investigation and reportedly uncovered a strained relationship between Endres and the Hansen family. According to a criminal complaint obtained by KFVS, the accident came on the heels of a “sensitive crime” that reportedly occurred between Endres’ and Hansen’s sons. The report did not detail the crime, but investigators believe it may have triggered Endres to seek revenge.
Per KFVS, a Cottage Grove Police Department school resource officer investigated an alleged incident between the boys in March. The case went to juvenile court on March 28. Court documents show Endres reportedly filed a request for police reports related to the case on April 23. Less than three hours before the deadly April 28 crash, court documents show Endres had received the reports.
According to the complaint, Hansen’s husband told police he heard Endres “flooring it” before impact. Multiple witnesses backed up the claim, including an Uber driver who told a frightening story.
The driver allegedly told police he feared Endres would crash into him, but instead, he saw the driver intentionally crash the car into the family.
“If he’s telling you he veered off the roadway, then he’s lying to you,” the witness said. “I saw that vehicle jerk.”
Endres allegedly told officers at the scene that he lost control of the car while heading to a gas station. He also reportedly said he was “having a bad day” and had “no comment” about the crash.
“It has come to light that this was not an accident. This was an intentional act by Mr. Endres,” Deputy District Attorney William Brown said in court, per KFVS. “This was, as the complaint shows, essentially an act of vigilante justice.”
Police arrested Endres on May 1. He was facing charges of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and mistreatment of animals resulting in death. A judge set his bond at $1 million. He faced life in prison if convicted, but Endres never made it back to court.
Staff at the Dane County Jail reportedly found Endres unresponsive on May 6, according to WMTV. First responders attempted life-saving measures, but Endres died at the scene. His cause of death remains a mystery, but an autopsy has been scheduled.
