Horror replay in Waseca murder trial: 'She remembers everything'

WASECA, MINN. -- Hilary Kruger is back in the big white house at the end of the long drive, missing a husband, missing a son and missing an arm.

Tracy Kruger, forever 40, and Alec Kruger, who will always be 13, were laid to rest in Woodville Cemetery two years ago.

On Monday, the grief and fear of that horrific early morning in February 2007 threaten to reawaken for Hilary Kruger and this town that has loved her and protected her.

The trial for Michael Zabawa, charged with the murders, begins Monday in Rochester. Kruger, who survived shotgun wounds to her liver and arm, will testify.

"She remembers everything," the Rev. Roger Haug, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, said. "But this community is surrounding her."

Said Dale DeRaad, Hilary Kruger's boss and initiator of many of the comforts provided to her and her youngest son, Zak: "People here are going to do whatever they can to help ease the pain."

Zabawa has contended that he shot Tracy Kruger during a struggle in the family's home, which lies well off a secluded stretch of gravel road outside Waseca. He said he accidentally shot Hilary because she was behind Tracy. He said he accidentally shot Alec after he tossed the shotgun aside and it went off.

Investigators, however, say the Krugers were shot a total of eight times. Zabawa shot Hilary first as she lay in bed, she told authorities. He shot Tracy next after he awoke. He shot Alec last, after the boy called 911. Zak, now 12, was staying with friends that night and was unhurt.

Zabawa, a hog farm worker with a petty criminal past, entered the Kruger house after driving his pickup truck into a nearby ditch.

Jury selection will begin Monday and is expected to take several days. Both the defense and the prosecution agreed to move the trial to Rochester because of the intense publicity and emotion generated by the case. The trial, before Steele County District Judge Joseph Bueltel, is expected to last about three weeks.

Ready to help -- again

More than 1,000 people attended the funeral for Tracy and Alec. Rehabilitation for Hilary, 43, took months.

After she had recovered, the pastor said, Hilary Kruger insisted on returning to the family's home. Alec's voice remains on the answering machine, he added.

A "Keep Out" sign is posted on the fence at the entrance to the drive.

Mike Hintz, who acted as a family spokesman in the months following the shootings, on Thursday declined to comment about how the family was holding up as the trial approached. Hilary Kruger has taken back the responsibility for speaking for her family, Hintz said. "And she and the Krugers are very private people."

Frankly, Haug said, he is amazed at Kruger's recovery -- and her strength.

"She just doesn't draw attention to herself. It's 'I don't want to feel sorry for myself, and I don't need pity. I need support,'" Haug said. "She has stayed clear-eyed."

Kruger is back working at her old job as office manager for DeRaad & Goetz and was helping ease the tax season crush on Thursday. She has declined numerous interview requests, but she hasn't withdrawn from life. Haug said he talked to her a couple of weeks ago, when he brought in his taxes.

It was Feb. 3.

"She looked at me and very quietly said, 'This is the date,'" Haug said.

On Valentine's Day, Kruger's niece was married at Grace Lutheran. The start of the trial was moved to accommodate the wedding. Hilary and Zak were among the 350 people there. It was a joyful gathering, Haug said, but subdued.

Waseca, a town of about 9,000, held multiple benefits for the Krugers in the weeks and months following the shootings. During Hilary's recuperation, friends stepped forward to cover some of the family's bills. The town is ready to step forward again if needed, said Mayor Roy Srp.

"This disrupted our peace, and it caused some major grief to fall upon our community," Srp said. "We are ready to help in any way. We're very protective of the entire Kruger family."

Haug said the church is prepared to help Hilary and others cover the costs of staying in Rochester. DeRaad said he doesn't think many people plan to sit in on the trial. They do, however, plan to make the drive to Rochester and wait outside the courtroom during the trial.

"I wouldn't be surprised to just see people there, waiting in the hallway in case the family needs anything," he said.

DeRaad was asked whether the trial's start is causing old pain and anxiety to resurface. It's not like that, he said.

"It's more a concern for her having to go through this again," he said. "Folks here don't need any kind of psychiatric help. But they want to know that Hilary's going to be OK."

James Walsh • 612-673-7428