Bucher wouldn't budge

In May 1995, “Billy the Kid” Wadsworth surfaced again in Milwaukee.

His girlfriend was facing a jail sentence in Waukesha for passing bad checks and Wadsworth was willing to make a deal with the district attorney to get her freed. He was ready to speak out about the Outlaw slayings, this time publicly. He even agreed to several interviews with local newspaper and TV reporters, claiming he could set the record straight on the murders of Cliff Machan, the Drobac family and Larry Anstett.

It was a risky move, Wadsworth says, looking back. According to Wadsworth, the DA offered to place him in a witness protection program.

But the deal fell through.“Talk was cheap,” says Bucher. “When I wanted more than talk, the price was too high.” Wadsworth, he says, wouldn’t agree to his ground rules.

Wadsworth, though, says it was Bucher who poisoned the deal, upping the ante by adding more charges against his girlfriend.“I wanted him to let my girlfriend out of jail, let her out on bond,” says Wadsworth.

“I didn’t ask for him to do any political favors. Just let her out.”

The ball remained in Bucher’s court. He had the grand jury testimony, including the transcript of Wadsworth’s testimony. He had all the evidence the investigators could muster.

But Bucher wouldn’t budge.