Owner of Hog Wild BBQ covered surveillance camera prior to fire at the business: Indictment

Steven W Kastern Covering Surveillance Camera

(Douglas County Indictment)

SUPERIOR, Wis. & SOLON SPRINGS, Wis. – Surveillance video allegedly shows Steven W. Kastern taking steps to cover-up the alleged arson of the Hog Wild BBQ and Smokehouse Restaurant on June 10, 2025.

A DVR system in the office stored surveillance recordings from, “approximately 14 cameras throughout the establishment” was key in the indictment.

The indictment claims, “DVR footage showed that on the morning of the fire, Steven covered the surveillance camera in the office with a post-it note.”

The surveillance video also showed on the morning of the fire Steven was “collecting all money from the gambling machines in the bar.  He counted and pocketed the money.”

Cameras also showed on the morning of the fire Steven was “going to and from his vehicle carrying numerous items, including boxes, tools, and a neon sign.”

The inducement continued to say less than an hour before the fire started, Steven and Kimberly both went into the building together and were seen on cameras removing items and beer.

The surveillance video showed Steven and Kimberly leaving the bar at 8:37pm.

A photo of the area of origin, showing the shelves in the office

(Douglas County Indictment)

Three minutes later, smoke was visible on surveillance video.

Then at 8:58pm, 21-minutes after they left the building, law enforcement was seen walking around the outside of the building.

In an interview with law enforcement Steven told them he and Kimberly had invested, “approximately $750,000 to $800,000 into renovating the property.”

In that interview Steven said he and his wife were at restaurant the evening of the fire, but did not remove any items.

Yet the indictment say surveillance video showed them leaving with items.

The indictment said, “Steven acknowledged he is the person seen going into the office, going to the desk, and taking the post-it note from the desk, but continued to deny that he was the one who put the note over the camera even though the video plainly shows he is the one who did so.”

Steven Wade Kastern

(Douglas County Jail)

The indictment reads when told Steven was told he needed to be truthful, Steven said “Do whatcha gotta do” and asked if he was under arrest.

In her interview with law enforcement, Kimberly said she and Steven had put up restaurant for sale approximately 3 months after opening.

It was initially listed for $1.4 million. It was now listed for $699,000.

When Kimberly was asked if Steven had started the fire, she said “not that I’m aware of.”

The arson investigators conclusion in the indictment reads, “Special Agent Windorff determined that the fire originated at an elevated position along the south wall in the southwest quadrant of the office/storage room and was caused by the deliberate application of an open flame to available combustibles, such as paper products on the upper shelves… The last two people at the property minutes before the fire started were Steven and Kimberly Kastern. The last person in the office prior to the fire starting was Steven. His activities in the office could not be observed because he had covered the camera that was pointed at the area where the fire started earlier in the day.”

RELATED: Sheriff: Arson Investigation at Hog Wild BBQ in Solon Springs Leads to Arrest of Owners

Kimberly Sue Kastern

(Douglas County Jail)

The Kasterns are also facing marijuana charges.

The indictment say about one month after the fire, a search warrant was executed on the Kastern’s home relating to the fire.

When searching the home a deputy, “observed several potted plants outside that appeared to be marijuana.”

The deputies then got another search warrant to look for marijuana on the property and found, “three potted plants outdoors and growing outside of a shed-like structure on the property. The plants smelled of fresh marijuana and their appearance was consistent with that of a marijuana plant. The largest of the three plants was entering the flowering stage.”