Crime

Dying Wisconsin Nurse Found Frozen to Ground Was Allegedly Targeted by Former Parking Valet

Early last Friday, a snowplow operator discovered Carlie Beaudin barely alive, tucked under a car, frozen to the ground and bleeding from the head

By

Chris Harris

Published on January 30, 2019 11:12 AM

A slain nurse practitioner who was found clinging to life last week in the parking garage of a Wisconsin hospital was “deliberately” targeted and “purely murdered” by the suspect, police allege.

Kenneth Freeman, 27, has been in custody since last Friday morning in connection with the death that same day of Carlie Beaudin, 33, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

Up until his firing a few months ago, Freeman had worked as a parking valet at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, a Milwaukee suburb, where Beaudin had previously worked and which shares a parking structure with Beaudin’s employer at the time of her death.

Early last Friday, a snowplow operator discovered Beaudin barely alive, tucked under a car. The unresponsive woman had been brutally beaten and was found frozen to the ground, bleeding from the head.

The criminal complaint — filed Tuesday by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office — cites video surveillance footage and alleges Freeman hid behind a concrete pillar in the parking garage, waiting for Beaudin. According to the complaint, Freeman approached Beaudin moments after she exited the parking deck’s elevator at 1 a.m.

Subsequently, the two exchanged words before Beaudin continued to her car. But Freeman allegedly grabbed her from behind and threw her to the ground before kicking and stomping on her neck, according to the complaint.

Freeman then allegedly dragged Beaudin into a car and drove her to the place where she was found before fleeing, the complaint states.

KODAK Digital Still Camera — Kenneth Freeman. Milwaukee County Jail

Beaudin had a weak pulse after she was found and died soon after, police said.

An autopsy has since revealed she died from blunt force trauma to the head and neck with indications of manual strangulation.

The complaint alleges Freeman called 911 Friday morning, saying he had been involved in the deadly incident at the Froedtert parking garage.

Minutes later, when he was arrested, police allegedly found Freeman wearing the same jacket he was seen wearing in the security footage, and he was also in possession of Beaudins purse.

The complaint alleges he later told authorities he “deliberately and purely murdered” Beaudin, but he referred to her as “Ms. Willa.”

• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.

Investigators did not explain the apparent misidentification in the complaint.

Freeman faces a single first-degree intentional homicide charge but has yet to go before a judge to enter a plea.

PEOPLE was unable to determine if he has retained legal counsel.

The hospital and the Medical College of Wisconsin, which is affiliated with and adjacent to Froedtert and shares a common parking garage, issued a statement to local news outlets, confirming Freeman had worked there through a professional parking provider the hospital contracted with for valet services between January and October of last year.

The news station reports Beaudin was an employee at the Medical College of Wisconsin since 2014 and at Froedtert Hospital from 2007 to 2014.

“The parking service provider has confirmed that the suspect cleared the background check and that he was terminated for a non-violent infraction,” the statement reads.

“We remain vigilant about the emotional and physical safety of every person who works or studies at, is cared for by, or visits our campuses, clinics and hospitals,” the statement continues. “Safety is our top priority. We have made security enhancements, and we will continue to make improvements.”

Beaudin’s husband, Nick Beaudin, spoke to FOX6, calling his wife an award-winning nurse who was “incredibly nurturing.”

He added: “Our family is suffering, and it’s a tragedy. She loved to sing opera. She spent a month in Italy, singing opera. She just loved to sing.”

Froedtert Hospital officials issued a statement to FOX6, saying, “Her presence was felt by all who knew her, providing both warmth and strength to patients as well as mentorship to new advanced practice providers and nurses.”