STAR JOURNAL REPORT

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office had the help of investigators from a police documentary program when they arrested Robin Mendez earlier this week for the 1982 death of his wife.

Oneida County Sheriff’s Capt. Terri Hook said the daughters of the victim proposed the idea of contacting the television show, “Cold Justice” to the sheriff’s office and district attorney several years ago.

“It’s a long process,” Hook said. “It took years to get on the show’s ‘list.’ They had to read through the (case) file, which is huge, first.”

Hook said when the Cold Justice team arrived the end of January, they and the sheriff’s office had a good idea what they were looking at. Then the group worked long hours to put the case together.

“The Cold Justice team provided fresh eyes and resources as the sheriff’s office investigative team worked to put the case together for presentation to the district attorney,” Hook stated.

Mendez, 69, was arrested Feb. 5 and has been charged in Oneida County Circuit Court with first degree intentional homicide. He is accused in the bludgeoning death of Barbara Mendez on April 28, 1982 at the Park City Credit Union in Minocqua, where she worked. Mendez is in Oneida County Jail on a $250,000 bond.