Murder charge filed in death of former Pierz man

A North Dakota man was charged with murder Monday in the death of Paul Varner, originally from Pierz.

Varner, 30, died early Sunday morning following a fight at his home in Wishek, N.D. Nicholas Caspers, 27, Bismarck, N.D. is accused of murdering Varner. Bond was set at $75,000 in the murder, a class AA felony with a maximum of life in prison.

Caspers was charged with willfully causing Varner's death under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life, according to the criminal complaint. The Bismarck Tribune reported Caspers' attorney, Donavin Grenz, said Caspers acted in self defense.

Terry Elhard, McIntosh County State's attorney in Ashley, N.D., declined to go into details about Varner's death as he was waiting for autopsy results and other tests. Elhard declined to say what may have led up to the altercation in the early morning hours other than to say the two men knew each other.

The Bismarck Tribune quoted Grenz as saying Caspers had been in Herreid, S.D., at a dance with friends Saturday before returning to Wishek and that Caspers had spoken to Varner during the night before going over to his house. Elhard said, after listening to initial accounts about the case, there appear to be facts in dispute.

Elhard said the Wishek Police Department wasn't called to Varner's home but Wishek Police Chief Thomas Welder came upon the scene and called for an ambulance. Welder took Caspers into custody at the scene.

Varner was living in Wishek and working at the Wishek Livestock Sales, of which his father, Joe Varner, is an owner. Caspers, the 2008 South Dakota Auctioneers Association bid calling champion from Hecla, S.D., works as an auctioneer for Mobridge Livestock Market. Authorities reported Caspers had previously worked for Joe Varner.

The Wishek Star reported Joe Varner has an ownership interest in a number of livestock barns and the family has been active in the livestock auction industry in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Joe Varner was previously charged in cattle theft and is accused of taking 188 cattle from a Watertown, S.D., livestock auction in March 2009. The cattle were under U.S. Bankruptcy Court control. Joe Varner pleaded not guilty and his jury trial was to begin Monday. The clerk of courts office in Codington County of South Dakota reported the jury trial was continued to May 10.

Elhard said he had no evidence of a connection between the murder charge and Varner's father's alleged cattle theft.

The Bismarck Tribune reported the Wishek Police Department was at Paul Varner's home shortly after midnight Sunday. Paul Varner was pronounced dead a short time later at the Wishek Hospital.

Elhard said Varner's roommate was home at the time but was asleep or passed out and apparently didn't hear or observe the altercation. Varner leaves behind a son. The Bismarck Tribune reported the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Wishek Police Department and McIntosh County Sheriff's Department were involved in the investigation.

(This story contains information from the Associated Press.)