WI- John Craig Schmutzer, 24, Fatally stabbed at Devil’s Lake State Park, Sauk County- 14 Oct 2020

[Wendyb1063]

He was found on a hiking trail in a popular state park.

Suspect in Devil's Lake stabbing still at large

Victim in Devil's Lake fatal stabbing identified as Wauwatosa man

 

[Wendyb1063]

Here is a map of the trail on which he was found. I've hiked it before; an easy and pretty trail through the woods.

Devil's Lake Grottos Trail

Here are a few other news reports:

Death at Devil's Lake State Park under investigation

Wauwatosa man stabbed to death at Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo

 

[Wendyb1063]

According to his LinkedIn page, the victim studied finance at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (about 50 minutes away from Devil's Lake) from 2014 to 2018 and had been working as a financial analyst at a bank in the Milwaukee area for almost two years.

I feel so sorry for the loss of this young life, and for his family and friends.

 

[Barnabas]

How awful. That’s such a nice peaceful area usually.

 

[Wendyb1063]

Yes, it is. My husband and I went hiking at the park a few weeks earlier, on a weekday morning. It's so hard to imagine violence there. Tragic falls by rock climbers, yes, but something like this? Nope.

I wonder if it was a random act of violence?

 

[Wendyb1063]

There has not been too much news about this case, but this is one gives more background on the victim. Such a tragedy.

'He was never hostile to anyone:' Friend stunned by former UW classmate's killing at Devil's Lake

 

[Wendyb1063]

This is proving to be a difficult case, unfortunately: Sauk County officials working round the clock to solve Devil's Lake State Park murder

 

[JerseyGirl]

Detectives looking into about 120 tips nearly for homicide at Devil's Lake State Park

 

[Wendyb1063]

Authorities need help to ID potential witnesses after homicide at Devil's Lake State Park

 

[pibblelove]

Witness: Authorities focus on photographed park visitor in Devil’s Lake State Park homicide

 

[Wendyb1063]

Not a lot new here, but at least they are keeping this case in the news: 'It's one phone call away': Sauk Co. investigators hopeful they're closer than ever to solving Devils Lake homicide

 

[Rush4087]

Yes, it is. My husband and I went hiking at the park a few weeks earlier, on a weekday morning. It's so hard to imagine violence there. Tragic falls by rock climbers, yes, but something like this? Nope.

I wonder if it was a random act of violence?

If it was a random act of violence, could it have been related to the riots that happened in Wauwatosa just a few days before?

 

[Wendyb1063]

If it was a random act of violence, could it have been related to the riots that happened in Wauwatosa just a few days before?

Possibly, since that is where the victim was from, although Wauwatosa is a fair distance (115 miles) from Devil's Lake. From the little I know about the victim, a connection with the protests isn't obvious to me.

 

[pibblelove]

A year after 24-year-old John Schmutzer was stabbed to death at Devil's Lake State Park, Sauk County authorities share an update on their investigation

‘We will not give up:’ One year after Devil’s Lake murder, still no arrest

 

[pibblelove]

Sauk Co. Sheriff renews call for information in 2020 Devil's Lake murder case​

Sauk Co. Sheriff renews call for information in 2020 Devil's Lake murder case

 

[FromGermany1]

After over six months, the person who killed a Wauwatosa man at Devil's Lake State Park in October is still at large

After months of investigating the death of Wauwatosa's John Craig Schmutzer at Devil's Lake State Park, officials are pleading for more information.

eu.jsonline.com

Witnesses said they saw a man running “frantically” and “out of control” north from the parking lot at the group camp in front of traffic, presumably onto or near Grottos Trail then north on East Bluff Trail to the north shore area of Devil's Lake, according to Wednesday's news release. The man was said to have fallen down multiple times while running.
Witnesses described the man to be about 6 feet tall with a slender-to-average build. He was wearing darker-colored pants with ripped out knees, a dark-colored top and possibly a hoodie. The clothing was described as “not standard running apparel."

 

[Quoththeraven]

After over six months, the person who killed a Wauwatosa man at Devil's Lake State Park in October is still at large

After months of investigating the death of Wauwatosa's John Craig Schmutzer at Devil's Lake State Park, officials are pleading for more information.

eu.jsonline.com

Witnesses said they saw a man running “frantically” and “out of control” north from the parking lot at the group camp in front of traffic, presumably onto or near Grottos Trail then north on East Bluff Trail to the north shore area of Devil's Lake, according to Wednesday's news release. The man was said to have fallen down multiple times while running.
Witnesses described the man to be about 6 feet tall with a slender-to-average build. He was wearing darker-colored pants with ripped out knees, a dark-colored top and possibly a hoodie. The clothing was described as “not standard running apparel." (14 Oct 2020)

Sounds like the River Guy.

"River Guy"​

Several witnesses remember seeing, on October 16, 1994, around 5:30 PM, a young man in his early twenties near the same area where the body was found. The man, who was wearing similar clothing as found with John Clinton Doe, was seen running and stumbling in Turtle Creek, visibly intoxicated and distraught. Dubbed "River Guy" by local investigators, he was reported by witnesses to have fallen in the water two or three times, trying to climb up the embankment and yelling at bystanders, telling them to get away from him.

Death of Carl Isaacs Jr. - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

IMO: These two are one and the same and was involved in the death of Carl Isaacs Jr.

"Disorganized Offenders

Disorganized crimes, in contrast, are not planned and the criminals typically leave evidence such as fingerprints or blood at the scene of the murder. There is often no attempt to move or otherwise conceal the corpse after the murder. Disorganized criminals may be young, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or mentally ill. They often have deficient communication and social skills and may be below average intelligence.
The disorganized offender is likely to come from an unstable or dysfunctional family. Disorganized offenders often have been abused physically or sexually by relatives. They are often sexually inhibited, sexually uninformed, and may have sexual aversions or other pathologies. They are more likely than organized criminals to be compulsive masturbators.
They are often isolated from others, live alone and are frightened or confused during the commission of their murders. They often do not have reliable transportation, so they kill their victims closer to home than organized offenders.
Significantly, disorganized killers will often “blitz” their victims—that is, use sudden and overwhelming force to assault them. The victim’s body is usually left where the attack took place and the killer makes no attempt to hide it."

Organized Versus Disorganized Serial Predators

At the heart of criminal profiling is the idea that serial killer crime scenes can be classified as either "organized" or "disorganized" in presentation.

www.psychologytoday.com

 

[pigbunny]

IMO: These two are one and the same and was involved in the death of Carl Isaacs Jr.

I can’t wait to see if you are right. I was looking at this way differently; I thought Carl Isaacs Jr was River Guy. However, if this shambling man is not CJR and is actually a separate person… that really opens us up to some things! Wonder if River Guy is seen in town ever; you’ll freeze your butt off out there all year round!

 

[Quoththeraven]

I can’t wait to see if you are right. I was looking at this way differently; I thought Carl Isaacs Jr was River Guy. However, if this shambling man is not CJR and is actually a separate person… that really opens us up to some things! Wonder if River Guy is seen in town ever; you’ll freeze your butt off out there all year round!

"IMO: These two are one and the same and was involved in the death of Carl Isaacs Jr."

Specifically, I'm referring to 'these two' as being 'River Guy' and one of the suspects in the Barbara Nelson murders being one and the same person with the initials SRB. He's never seen in town because he now lives in Illinois and has been for several years.

 

[TCBadger]

So sad and scary this hasn't been solved. Surprised there hasn't been a sketch released w/ so many observing the man fleeing. Hoping they have DNA...