GOVERNOR’S LETTER ON TODAY’S SIGNING. INSIDE THIS STORY ON THE 12 news MOBILE APP. >> A GREENFIELD MAN WHO RANDOMLY TARGETED AND KILLED A WORKER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WILL SPEND LIFE IN A MENTAL HEALTH FACILITY. AMANDA LANGE KILLED BEN CHRISTENSEN. THIS HAPPENED BACK IN 2019. LAST SUMMER, LANG WAS RELEASED WITHOUT THE COURT OR DISTRICT ATTORNEY BEING NOTIFIED. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER JAMES STRATTON REPORTS ON WHAT’S NEXT. >> THURSDAY, THE END OF A NEARLY SEVEN YEAR ROAD FOR ARMANDO LANG. >> GREENFIELD POLICE RUSHED TO THE SCENE NEAR 60TH AND ARMOR TUESDAY. >> LANG STABBED AND KILLED 49 YEAR OLD BEN CHRISTENSEN WHILE HE WAS WORKING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD CHARGED IN 2019, A JUDGE FOUND HIM UNFIT TO STAND TRIAL AND ORDERED HIM TO A MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE IN 2020. LAST MAY, HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO A LOWER LEVEL FACILITY AND LAST SUMMER POLICE RESPONDED TO A 911 CALL FROM HIS MOM’S HOUSE. LANG WAS OUT AND NO ONE KNEW. >> WE WERE KIND OF SHOCKED TO HEAR THAT HE’S HERE, LIKE OUT ON THE STREET. >> THE VICTIM’S BROTHER WRITING A LETTER TO THE COURT. NO ONE ALERTED THE COURT. NO ONE TOLD OUR FAMILY THAT HIS KILLER WAS NOW FREE TO GO HOME TO VISIT HIS MOM. THE COUNTY ADMITTED TO 12 news THAT IT DIDN’T NOTIFY THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF LANG’S RELEASE, WHICH STARTED THE FALLOUT AND RESTARTED HIS COURT CASE. LANG PLEADED GUILTY TO THE MURDER IN DECEMBER AND WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF MENTAL DISEASE OR DEFECT IN JANUARY. >> STATE OF WISCONSIN VERSUS ARMANDO LANG. >> WHICH GETS US TO THURSDAY. JUDGE DAVID SWANSON RULING LANG BE IN THE CARE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES FOR LIFE. >> HE’S IN A FACILITY WHERE HIS IS CONSTANTLY UNDER SUPERVISION, AND IT’S APPROPRIATE, GIVEN THE BACKGROUND OF THIS CASE, FOR THAT PLAN TO REMAIN IN PLACE. >> THAT FACILITY HERE IN FRANKLIN CHRISTENSEN’S BROTHER WRITES, WE FEEL FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY. THE COURT NEEDS TO ENSURE LANG BE PLACED IN A SECURE INSTITUTION. TONIGHT, HE TELLS 12 news. THIS IS AS CLOSE AS IT’S GOING TO GET THE CASE, LEADING TO PUSH FOR LARGER CHANGE. STATE REPRESENTATIVE BOB DONOVAN REQUESTING THE STATE LEGISLATURE REVIEW THE MENTAL HEALTH LAW. >> IT’S OUR HOPE THAT IT WILL CONSIST OF PROFESSIONALS THAT DEAL WITH THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS, BASIS. LAW ENFORCEMENT, SOME LEGISLATORS. >> IN MILWAUKEE JAMES STRATTON, WISN 12 news. >> STATE LEADERS WILL MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER OR NOT TO STUDY THE STATE’S MENTAL HEALTH LAW SOMETIME IN MAY OR EARLY JUNE. IF PICKED, A COMMITTEE WILL STUDY THE LAW AND SUGGEST ANY CHANGES. 12 news HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE STATE’S MENTAL HEALTH LAW FOR MONTHS NOW. TO WATCH OUR PREVIOU
After 2019 murder, judge approves lifetime mental health care for Greenfield man
Amando Lang, who admitted to killing a worker on the side of the road in Greenfield back in 2019, will spend the rest of his life in the custody and care of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Updated: 6:54 PM CDT Apr 9, 2026
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A man who admitted to killing a worker on the side of the road in Greenfield back in 2019 will spend the rest of his life in the custody and care of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. On Thursday, Judge David Swanson approved a plan for Amando Lang to receive mental health care at the facility where he already resides. Lang pleaded guilty and then not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to killing Ben Christianson back in 2019. Christianson was taking soil samples, working on the side of the road near South 60th Street and West Armour Avenue, when the murder took place. Lang was originally found unfit to stand trial in 2020; his case was paused, and he was ordered to the state-run Mendota Mental Health Facility for a year. It is unclear where he went from there.Greenfield police responded to Amando Lang’s mother’s house on June 15, 2025. Records show Lang’s mother called 911 because he was having a reaction to his medication. Body camera video obtained by 12 news shows officers didn’t know he had been released to the public.Milwaukee County Behavioral Health admitted to 12 news that the proper notification to the court and district attorney didn’t happen at the time of Lang’s release.”No one alerted the court; No one told our family that his killer was now free to go home to visit his mom,” Ben’s brother Jay Christianson wrote in a letter to the court.Lang pleaded guilty to the murder in December and was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in January. “He is in a facility where he’s constantly under supervision, and it’s appropriate, given the background of the case, for that to remain in place,” Judge David Swanson said Thursday, noting Lang hasn’t had any issues since being at the facility.The case is also pushing for larger change. State Rep. Bob Donovan requested the legislature review the state’s mental health law, called Chapter 51. Donovan’s calls come after Lang’s release, and a 12 news investigation into the families not getting help for their loved ones while they experience a mental health crisis. State leaders will make a decision on whether or not to study it sometime in late May or early June, per Donovan’s office.Top HeadlinesSecurity stops sexual assault, fires shot at Milwaukee Intermodal StationArrowhead High School community fights proposed teacher cutsGov. Evers signs online sports betting bill into lawWATCH Woman injured after car crashes into train in Racine
A man who admitted to killing a worker on the side of the road in Greenfield back in 2019 will spend the rest of his life in the custody and care of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
On Thursday, Judge David Swanson approved a plan for Amando Lang to receive mental health care at the facility where he already resides.
Lang pleaded guilty and then not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect to killing Ben Christianson back in 2019. Christianson was taking soil samples, working on the side of the road near South 60th Street and West Armour Avenue, when the murder took place. Lang was originally found unfit to stand trial in 2020; his case was paused, and he was ordered to the state-run Mendota Mental Health Facility for a year. It is unclear where he went from there.
Greenfield police responded to Amando Lang’s mother’s house on June 15, 2025. Records show Lang’s mother called 911 because he was having a reaction to his medication. Body camera video obtained by 12 news shows officers didn’t know he had been released to the public.
Milwaukee County Behavioral Health admitted to 12 news that the proper notification to the court and district attorney didn’t happen at the time of Lang’s release.
“No one alerted the court; No one told our family that his killer was now free to go home to visit his mom,” Ben’s brother Jay Christianson wrote in a letter to the court.
Lang pleaded guilty to the murder in December and was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect in January.
“He is in a facility where he’s constantly under supervision, and it’s appropriate, given the background of the case, for that to remain in place,” Judge David Swanson said Thursday, noting Lang hasn’t had any issues since being at the facility.
The case is also pushing for larger change. State Rep. Bob Donovan requested the legislature review the state’s mental health law, called Chapter 51. Donovan’s calls come after Lang’s release, and a 12 news investigation into the families not getting help for their loved ones while they experience a mental health crisis. State leaders will make a decision on whether or not to study it sometime in late May or early June, per Donovan’s office.
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