Deal accepted in woman’s death

Kim Smith

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2001 | 10:45 a.m.

A 68-year-old Las Vegas man accused of beating and stomping his handicapped sister-in-law to death in December 1998 and then freezing her body has entered a plea agreement.

Wilman Oslund could get as little as probation or as much as 20 years in prison when he is sentenced by District Judge John McGroarty on March 12.

Although he did not admit his guilt, Oslund admitted Tuesday that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict him of voluntary manslaughter with use of a deadly weapon in the death of Sheila Manantan, 49.

According to police, Oslund was left to care for his sister-in-law, who suffered from cerebral palsy and mental challenges, after the death of his wife in November 1997.

Police believe Oslund would often tie Manantan to a toilet for hours at a time as punishment for throwing food and urinating on herself.

On the day of her death, police believe Oslund beat Manantan with a shower curtain rod and stomped on her after she fell in the shower and pulled down the shower curtain.

Then, because he feared what police would say about the bruises, he froze her in his freezer.

Three days later Oslund defrosted her, dressed her, called the coroner's office and said she died of natural causes.

Police said that three weeks prior to her death, Manantan was taken by Oslund to University Medical Center for treatment of numerous sores that had become infested with maggots.

Prosecutors had struck a deal with Oslund's second wife, Sherry Kahalehoe, 30, to testify against Oslund, but she died of a drug overdose several months ago.