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A local woman accused of aiding and abetting a stabbing death outside of Harris last summer was sentenced to four years and 10 months in prison this week.  

Joshua Kaczrowski, 28, perished after sustaining a torso stab wound May 15, 2020  according to findings from the medical examiner.  Local authorities apprehended a male and female soon after the stabbing. They fled the scene in a van, made contacts to find somewhere to lay low and ultimately were arrested found hiding in a ditch.

Courtney Pilz-Carr was charged for being an accomplice to Justin Valian in the incident.  Pilz-Carr gets credit for 262 days already served.  Her role in this tragedy was involved with calling the alleged stabber, who is facing murder charges, to come to the address she shared with Kaczrowski, to give her a ride. The victim and the man Pilz-Carr summoned, Justin Valian, 23,  did not get along, she had told police in an interview in the complaint.

Under questioning by authorities Pilz-Carr was uncooperative and the judge noted the defendant obstructed law enforcement giving misleading information to investigators.  Judge Bollman added that the victim,  Kaczrowski, was left unattended after being stabbed while Pilz Carr was nearby waiting in the van.  Another man at the house, who said he’d been working on a vehicle, alerted 9-1-1 and remained to be of assistance.

Pilz-Carr entered a guilty plea on a felony count of aiding and of being an accomplice after the fact.

Pilz-Carr helped Valian dispose of evidence and they both hid from law enforcement as the two were sought for hours after the incident. They were located in North Branch, after authorities had received tips on their location.  The knife was found by a homeowner in a yard on Birch Street.

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