Two Gays Mills cousins suspected in the death of a Beloit man at a Readstown bar last Thursday morning were released on bail Monday after a hearing in Vernon County Circuit Court.

Sheriff's investigators are "trying to put together what happened, second by second, in the 23 feet between the barstool and the door ... down five steps and outside" at Pat's Corner Bar that night, said Chief Deputy James Hanson.

David A. Heisz, 26, posted $10,000 cash bond. His cousin, 28-year-old Mikeal E. Heisz Jr, was released on a $10,000 signature bond. Both were ordered to stay away from each other, drugs, alcohol and any place that serves alcohol. Their next court date is Feb. 25.

The two were in Pat's Corner Bar, celebrating David Heisz' birthday, on Wednes-day night and into Thursday morning, when 50-year-old Kelly R. Kuykendall died.

The Heisz cousins and Kuykendall knew one another but "were not well acquainted," Hanson said.

Witnesses told authorities Kuykendall may have said something derogatory to the Heisz cousins that triggered the altercation, sheriff's investigator Scott Bjerkos said in court Monday.

At least six people watched Kuykendall get beaten outside the bar, Bjerkos said.

Kuykendall, who lives in Beloit but owns a cabin in the Readstown area, was "left on the sidewalk unconscious as the suspects fled the scene," according to Vernon County Sheriff's Department reports.

Kuykendall's autopsy indicated he had massive head injuries, including two skull fractures and several cuts, a number of broken ribs, an injured liver and other significant internal injuries, Bjerkos said.

The cousins have not been charged yet, Hanson said, because the investigation continues. He noted the death has "created a certain amount of polarity" in the community, something that has been reflected by anonymous comments on the web sites of the La Crosse Tribune and the Broadcaster.

Hanson said authorities are monitoring the Internet comments.

The two Gays Mills men quickly were identified Thursday morning, he said, and Crawford County authorities were contacted.

"They found (the suspects), and we gave them the opportunity to drive in on their own," said Hanson. A press release noted the two initially were held on suspicion of second-degree reckless homicide.

The cousins had blood on their clothing when questioned by authorities last Thursday, Bjerkos said.

At Monday's bail hearing, Bjerkos said Mikeal Heisz attacked Kuykendall in the bar about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. David Heisz then dragged Kuykendall 23 feet out the front door and struck Kuykendall “about the face” and stood over him, Bjerkos said.

While Mikeal Heisz initiated the fight inside the bar, David Heisz was the main aggressor outside, Bjerkos said. The department had "conflicting statements as to if Mikeal Heisz was in the area" where Kuykendall was beaten on the sidewalk.

Kuykendall didn't throw a punch or act to defend himself, Bjerkos said. He was left in a pool of blood as the Heisz cousins fled, Bjerkos said.

David Heisz told authorities he had been out Wednesday night for his 26th birthday. He said in one interview he had 20 drinks and in another said 30, Bjerkos said.

Vernon County District Attorney Timothy Gaskell said David Heisz could face a charge of second degree reckless homicide, is a class D felony, with a 25-year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine. David Heisz is a two-time repeat offender as a felon. If he's convicted of a homicide charge, it would add 15 years to his sentence, Gaskell said.

Gaskell said Mikeal Heisz could be charged with anything from disorderly conduct to being party to a homicide.

Kuykendall was taken from the sidewalk to Vernon Memorial Healthcare by Readstown EMS. He was pronounced dead on arrival at VMH.

One of Kuykendall's friends, Ron Nash of Readstown, had been with him earlier in the evening. Nash was notified by phone of the altercation and said he went to VMH and awaited Kuykendall's arrival.

He said Kuykendall's condition when his body was brought to the hospital is something that will haunt him for the rest of his life.

"It's the worst sight I've ever seen," Nash said. "I never want to see that again."

Nash said Kuykendall was unrecognizable and had extensive damage to his right ear and eye, which Bjerkos corroborated in court.

Nash said he has been friends with Kuykendall for 30 years. Kuykendall, who was known by the nicknames "flatlander" or "Sgt. Kelly" by his friends, was about five-foot-six and weighed about 140 pounds.

"My friends and I had been down to Beloit and stayed at his house," Nash said. "He was just a good guy who loved to hunt deer and was easygoing."

Another friend, Mike Mayberry of Readstown, bow hunted with Kuykendall.

"He was the type of guy who wouldn't let a friend drive after they'd been drinking," Mayberry said. "He'd say, 'Stay at my cabin,' or give them a ride. He looked out for people."

Kuykendall had been a long-time employee of Beloit Corp. and continued to work in the Beloit area after that business closed a few years ago, Nash said. Kuykendall owned a cabin on land outside of Readstown.

David Heisz's attorney, Peder Arneson, said on Monday that David Heisz has four children and works as a carpenter. David Heisz has previous felony convictions for burglary and for fleeing an officer, both occurring in 2000, according to the Wisconsin Circuit Court's computer system.

Mikeal Heisz does not have a criminal record.

Pat's Corner Bar owner Pat McCann had no comment on the incident last Thursday morning.

"Maybe later," he said.

Others in downtown Readstown were shocked by the incident.

"This is a pretty tame town," said Myrna Callaway, who owns and operates Crazy Frank's in Readstown with her husband, Frank. "I'm surprised this happened. This is just a beautiful little place between the hills."

Dan Stewart, owner of the Kickapoo Trading Post in Readstown, echoed Callaway's remarks.

"It's been years since anything like this has happened," Stewart said. "It's too bad that somebody had to lose their life."

Stewart recalled a piece of local history — a fight at a Readstown tavern that led to a death 28 years ago.

On March 13, 1980, Brian Paul Grancorvitz, then 19, of Gays Mills, stabbed to death Roger Lind, 27, of rural Viroqua.

The fight that led to Lind's death occurred outside the Tin Shack Tavern, which is no longer in operation.

Lind suffered approximately 20 stab wounds, Phil Stittleburg, a Vernon County attorney, who helped prosecute Grancorvitz, said.

Grancorvitz was found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. In prison, Grancorvitz changed his name to Adrian Lomax. Lomax was released from prison in 2004. His sentence was issued before Wisconsin's truth in sentencing legislation was passed, which does not allow for early release. Lomax has since become a prison reform advocate.

Vernon County Sheriff Gene Cary said his department has been very careful to maintain the integrity of the investigation into Kuykendall's death.

“Six or eight months down the road, if this does go to a trial, we can’t go back to Feb. 7 and do everything over again,” Cary said. “We’ve got to be methodical now and conduct a complete and thorough investigation.”

(George Hessleberg contributed to this story.)