Charges have been filed in connection with a massive deer poaching investigation

WASHINGTON COUNTY (NBC 26) – Charges have been filed as part of a major deer poaching investigation. Investigators believe suspects illegally killed more than 100 white-tailed deer.

Jessica Kroening, a 36-year-old Brownsville woman, is charged with contributing to the delinquency of a child, illegally hunting deer and resisting a wildlife ranger.

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office, the crimes occurred between last spring and this summer in parts of Fond du Lac, Washington and Dodge counties.

According to investigators, witnesses reported that a minor, a 16-year-old male, shot at deer from a car at night.

In the complaint, Kroening told investigators she was with the teen one night and was shining a light when he shot a deer out the car window.

Investigators said a teenager and two other teenage males participated in the killing by shining spotlights on deer in fields, shooting them and then decapitating some bucks, even though many deer were left to rot.

Investigators also said they hit deer with their vehicle and then took selfies or videos while the deer were still alive and suffering.

According to prosecutors, Kroening had knowledge of the murders and that the teens would use her car and firearms.

The criminal complaint states that Kroening consented to a search of her car, where police found a bloody steak knife, a bloody wood saw, a headlight, three bloody floor mats, a .22-caliber bullet and two bloody bags.

Investigators said Kroening also turned over two firearms the teens had used that had their serial numbers scratched off.

Prosecutors also said Kroening told investigators she destroyed one of the minor’s phones after learning that law enforcement had obtained a search warrant to do so.

Kroening is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on December 2nd.