Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the killer did ditch the shirt--since there seems to be no blood on it--he probably was concerned he'd been seen with her, or near where she was dropped off, while he had the shirt on.
It's also possible the plaid shirt was staged, like her undergarments and t-shirt found hanging in a nearby tree. They also could have been staged. Her body propped against a log could have also been staged. It's also possible that, since her outer garments weren't found (or mentioned in the press releases as being found),
Schnetzer was made to wear that plaid shirt by the killer(s) and transported to the location while wearing it.
November 5,1996
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Eighteen years ago today the body of Dawn Schnetzer was found propped against a log in a wooded area in Calumet County. Either she had been strangled or her throat was cut. A pathologist was unable to determine the exact cause of death because of body decomposition. The 17-year-old Menasha girl was wearing only red and white socks. Her undergarments and T-shirt were found hanging in a nearby tree.
It would be interesting to know what they meant by
"found hanging in a nearby tree". Hung neatly or thrown haphazardly?
They couldn't determine the cause of death but I'm sure they could have determined approximately when she died based on the decomposition of the body and forensic evidence at the scene.
Why have they not disclosed the time of death? Or even given a profile of the killer? It would help to know whether they're dealing with a one-time crime of opportunity or a serial killer who has committed similar crimes, such as the July 1, 1972 killing of another Wisconsin 17 year old,
Cynthia Jane Allen, six years previously, whose clothes were also found hanging in nearby trees. She was held for 17 days before being killed based on news reports. Based on what forensics show at the crime scene,
Dawn may have also been held for a period of time.
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?271276-WI-Cynthia-Allen-17-Marinette-11-June-1972
When the person (whoever he was) who found Allen noticed the jacket hanging in a tree, he went over to investigate and found her body (and other clothing on several tree branches)
A view of
608 Broad St., Menasha, WI, where
Dawn Marie Schnetzer was headed to.
Hank's 5th Ward Tavern, 600 Broad St., on the corner of Appleton & Broad Streets, can be seen two buildings to the left of 608 Broad St. Was the
"short distance away" from 608 Broad St. east or west of 608? If it was west of 608 Broad St., she may have stopped at the bar,
if it was open.
https://goo.gl/maps/grZII
If she hopped off the bike a short distance
before her destination, that would be more logical since
Hortonville, WI is west of
Menasha WI. That would make the former
Hank's 5th Ward Tavern, now DBA
Five O'clock Somewhere being where she was last seen.
https://www.google.com/maps/@44.2019961,-88.4425052,3a,75y,342.93h,76.1t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s4yBs3e1GzzhqV0W8DbN_2Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
https://goo.gl/maps/1jmcB
It would be nice if LE would state the
exact time she was dropped off. "Early the following morning" doesn't cut it for a timeline, nor does keeping the destination address and the gender of the "friend" hidden from the public, IMO.
