Scott Vanigan of Chippewa Falls has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading no contest to a first-degree intentional homicide charge for the murder of Lynn Smith.
The plea deal led to the dismissal of arson and corpse mutilation charges.
Firefighters, responding to a 9-1-1 call reporting Vanigan’s home on fire in July 2022, discovered Smith’s body at the scene.
Autopsy results indicated that she was deceased before the fire started.
Vanigan may be eligible for parole after serving 35 years and is required to pay over $147,000 in restitution.
