Despite his death in October 2024, the case involving Richard Pierce could still have another day in court.

An appeal of Pierce’s murder conviction was placed on hold last July after WBAY reported that his attorney suffered a stroke and could not continue with the case. According to court records, attorney Brian Patrick Mullins has now taken over the appeal, which was filed while Pierce was still alive.

Pierce was convicted in August 2022 of murdering his wife, Carol Jean Pierce, and disposing of her body in 1975. The crime dates back to Pierce’s time stationed in Sturgeon Bay as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Carol Jean Pierce’s body was never found, and the case remained unsolved for decades until the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Sturgeon Bay Police Department reopened the investigation and solved it 47 years later.

Pierce’s previous legal team argued that some testimony presented at trial was hearsay and that no new evidence directly tied him to the murder.

Pierce died Oct. 24 at Dodge Correctional Institution. In early December 2024, Judge David Weber denied all arguments raised in the appeal and refused post-conviction relief, according to court records.

Mullins now has 60 days to file the updated appeal.