Wittman, AZ - On Monday night, Virgil M. Togstad III, 26, called 911 to report that he’d shot his parents and brother in their Arizona home. When police arrived and took him into custody, Togstad looked around, let officers cuff him, and said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have wasted my family.” Well, isn’t that the kind of decision that could have been made prior to the shooting, there, Virgil?
Monday night at about 7:30, Virgil Togstad III called 911 to report the shooting. He told dispatch that his name was Virgil and that he had shot his parents and his brother. When asked why he’d shot the victims, Virgil said that he did it “because they are not his family.” Except that they were.
When officers arrived, they found the bodies of Virgil Togstad Jr. and Luisa Togstad, Virgil’s parents. They also found Virgil’s brother, whose name has not been released. One body was in the house, one was outside on the lawn, and one was “near a doorway.” Togstad swore he hadn’t been drinking or using drugs, but as it turned out, he was pretty wasted himself. Officers kinda knew he was lying at the scene, what with the alcohol smell everywhere.
According to the brother’s girlfriend, who was at the home, the Togstads were in the yard shooting a BB gun at a target Monday evening. Togstad Jr., the dad, asked Virgil if he wanted to shoot it. Virgil said no. Then Virgil took a handgun from his waistband and shot a round at the target with that instead.
When Virgil’s dad got mad and began to lecture Virgil about using the hanfgun, Virgil turned the handgun on his dad and shot him five times. When his mom, Luisa Togstad, started screaming, Virgil shot her too. Then the witness saw Togstad’s brother, her boyfriend, lying on the ground.
Virgil responded by telling passersby to back off, which they did given that he was waving a gun and obviously knew how to use it. He then called 911.
Thing is, Virgil’s parents knew he was a right nutball years ago and even sent him out of state for treatment. Last year, he held a knife to his mother’s neck after a money dispute, but was judged competent to stand trial. His parents went so far as to write letters to the judge asking for leniency in sentencing, and Virgil got three years probation instead of prison. He moved back into their home, where he had always lived. That’s some blind parental devotion, don’t you think?
Virgil M. Togstad III is being charged with three counts of first-degree murder. He is being held at the Fourth Avenue Jail in Phoenix.
Here is a video with some more detail:
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17 responses so far ↓
1
dammitall
Jun 24, 2008 at 7:25 pm -More like absolute, fucken denial.
2
feisty76
Jun 25, 2008 at 1:33 am -Virgil Togstad IS a waste. Period.
3
CassieLovejoy
Jun 25, 2008 at 2:25 am -Don’t people realize that when they slaughter their families, there’s no one left to write them when they’re in the clink?
4
WryBread
Jun 25, 2008 at 11:57 pm -Well, he had to try it to see, I guess.
5
Wonder
Jun 26, 2008 at 2:25 am -LOL thanks for the video, I thought I heard voices - I checked my taskbar then I muted the tv… I second guessed my answer maching and the possibility of someone in my basement … before I scrolled this page hehe… ya know it starts automatic…
crazy people…. geeeeesh
Don’t they ever do retake on mug shots? Seem like they would force you to open your eyes.
6
yeaitsme11
Jun 26, 2008 at 4:50 pm -you guys are messed you probly dont even know them and that stupid fat guy gettin interviewed hated val and now he wants to act like he cares. as soon as the cameras come on he acts like him and val were all close well take a hint cuz he never cared and he probly still dont.
7
funkmama
Jun 26, 2008 at 5:06 pm -Wow, what a homocidal wackjob.
Yeaitsme11… I am not sure what you’re talking about, why hate on the guy that {evidently lives next door}? He didn’t seem to me like he was trying to act like they were close as much as he was just telling a secondhand account of what happened. If you knew Val, shouldn’t you be mourning instead of hating on us?
Confused.
Funk
8
funkmama
Jun 26, 2008 at 5:11 pm -Do you know the family? Do you know Virgil? What do you think about this? Can you give us anything at all?
9
SNOOKIE
Jun 26, 2008 at 5:19 pm -he is a fuckin wacko-fucktard
10
MarieF
Jun 26, 2008 at 5:57 pm -F-ing Idiot!
11
Miss. Hill
Jun 26, 2008 at 5:59 pm -Sometimes we can’t help our psychotic loved ones, if they are a danger to themselves or others than committing them is the right thing to do! Or shit like this goes down and this is just tragic. It appears this guy is broken and can’t be fixed! No need trying he likes guns so shoot him and end his uselessness.
12
petrina
Jun 26, 2008 at 6:43 pm -wait, is the dude in the video Val’s dad? i’m confused.
13
WryBread
Jun 26, 2008 at 10:16 pm -Lots of times it’s not possible to commit psychotics. I had a friend who was murdered by a family member whom everyone knew was dangerous. The police were waiting for a reason to arrest him — turned out to be my friend’s death. Our system is broken when dangerous mentally ill people are let out among us until they kill.
14
Wonder
Jun 27, 2008 at 10:12 am -Val is Virgil III’s brother - the man in the video (does not live next door)is telling the story his daughter (the witness) told … her name is Janice. He claims that val is a hero rather he liked or disliked him he is grateful he pushed Janice and told her to run - saving her from the next bullet. She went over the fence to the next door neighbors.
15
funkmama
Jun 27, 2008 at 10:17 am -This is really sad. Thank you for the clarification Wonder. I have a mentally ill uncle, I am so thankful he is not violent. I couldn’t imagine what those last moments must have been like for that poor family. The man in the video is very lucky. Even if he didn’t like Val, I bet he wishes he had a chance to thank him. He was a hero. My thoughts and prayers are with the Togstads.
16
Miss. Hill
Jun 27, 2008 at 11:32 am -I have a mentally ill mother, grandmother & had uncles who where mentally ill. We were able to commit one of my uncles after he bit off a persons ear & nose. Usually after an event like using a knife on your mother or other violent/criminal acts there are ways to get an individual committed based on their actions.
I do agree though our system is beyond broken and some people are at a loss when dealing with mentally ill family member!
17
sugarglider
Jul 1, 2008 at 9:31 am -“Maybe I shouldn’t have wasted my family?”!!!!??!!!! Wow. Just wow. The man doesn’t sound “mentally ill” to me, by the way, in the clinical-legal definition. If he asked the question, then it seems he knew right from wrong. And there’s nothing in this article about mental illness. He was previously judged competent to stand trial. When my mother-in-law has psychotic episodes, is she ever violent? Yes. But she also thinks the bushes are talking to her. (True story). I don’t see jack about htat here. This guy–he’s just a violent, drunk POS.
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