GUILTY WI - Nicholas Day, 26, found dead while jogging along rural road, Blue Mounds, 15 JaN 2020 *ARREST*

[Wendyb1063]

Initially thought to be a victim of a hit-and-run, later determined to be a homicide victim:

Investigators seek tips into town of Blue Mounds homicide; military friends grieve

Sheriff's Office seeking potential witness of Blue Mounds murder

 

[LadyL]

his FB:

https://www.facebook.com/nicholas.day.3114

 

[MntnHiker]

Awful. So they have not released how he died, correct? I wonder what made them decide it was a homicide.

Does he normally run that route and at that time of day? I wonder if this was someone who knew him or just someone who happened by and randomly decided to murder someone. It was right smack dab in the middle of the day. How brazen. I hope they get some people coming forward who were in that area that time of day and maybe saw something or someone.

 

[twt11]

Sheriff continues search for witnesses to Blue Mounds homicide

 

[MntnHiker]

From the article linked above: "The runner is not considered a suspect, however investigators would like to speak with him or any other runners who frequently run in this area."

Is this a popular area for running? This is on a road, correct? I know that people do run on roads, but I feel like popular running areas are typically bike or walking trails. A lot of people may not feel comfortable jogging in a road. Are there any running trails nearby?

 

[Wendyb1063]

It is a popular route for more serious runners (but probably not casual ones); it is scenic and easily accessible from Mount Horeb. However, on a weekday in the middle of the day, there would not be too much traffic (vehicle or runners) in this area.

 

[Wendyb1063]

Here is the obituary for Nicholas.
Obituary for Nicholas James Day | Saether Funeral Service

 

[AmandaSkis]

The reclassification to a homicide makes me wonder if he was murdered somewhere else and then dumped along the road.

But then who is this “runner” that police would like to speak with?

We need a lot more details about his life. I read that he has a young daughter. How long has it been since he left the Navy?

 

[Wendyb1063]

It's unclear as to where he was murdered, but he was a competitive runner and it would not be surprising for him to be on that road running, I don't think.

The runner that police want to speak with has apparently been identified and is not at this point considered a suspect, but that is all that has been publicly stated that I have seen.

Reward offered in Blue Mounds homicide case

He had a young daughter; he's divorced from her mother but they seemed to be on good terms. He was discharged from the Navy in 2018; he served 8 years. He appears to have been a very skilled mechanic and had recently opened a business to repair jet skis and snow mobiles.

Torque Motorsports LLC

 

[MinnyPin]

This just seems weird. Looks like a great guy from appearances that wouldn’t have enemies.

 

[MntnHiker]

I really wonder if this was a totally random crime, which unfortunately, I think will make even harder to solve--if this perp has no ties to Nicholas.

Although so many times homicides are committed by someone known to the victim, there are times that is not the case. Perhaps a disturbed individual happened to be running or driving along that road while he was running and decided to kill him. If that's the case, I think without a witness coming forward, it may sadly go unsolved.

 

[AmandaSkis]

While it could be random, statistically, the homicide would be caused by someone Day knew.

If he’s known as a competitive runner, did he run this same route often? Was it possible he is worth more dead than alive?

 

[Wendyb1063]

<modsnip>
The police investigation continues.
Detectives looking to identify truck owner in Blue Mounds homicide investigation

 

[AmandaSkis]

<modsnip>
The police investigation continues.
Detectives looking to identify truck owner in Blue Mounds homicide investigation

Well, well, that’s interesting. I hope the police are able to determine who owns the truck. I still say this homicide isn’t random.

 

[MntnHiker]

So right now there is a man who was seen jogging and then this truck owner also in the area and neither have come forward, it sounds like.

Is this area pretty well-traveled in the middle of the day?

Also I'm surprised neither possible witness has come forward to say they were in the area. Unless neither was a local and they have not even heard this happened/don't follow the news. Obviously the other possibility for not coming forward is guilt.

 

[Wendyb1063]

The man who was seen jogging has been identified (see link in post 9 above).

I live in the general area, and that area probably would not see too much traffic during a weekday. Here's a Googlemaps Streetview of the rural intersection near where he was found:
خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

The town of Mount Horeb (which is where the pickup truck was sighted) is the headquarters of Duluth Trading Company and gets some tourist traffic because of its Norwegian history and the "Trollway". The driver of the pickup truck may have been someone just passing through town who is unaware of the case.

 

[MntnHiker]

Thanks! I missed that they identified the jogger.

Yes, that street view does emphasize how isolated this particular intersection is. No houses or businesses it looks like.

I am curious about the manner of death and what made them decide this was a homicide. My first thought was that someone accidentally hit and killed him, they panicked and fled. But they said they decided it was actually a homicide and I am so curious what led them to say that. Of course, I understand they will keep this close to the vest to protect the investigation.

 

[Falling Down]

Has it been determined if he had a reason to be there, as in is this a normal running route for him, was he actually out running, or is something else a reason why he was in that isolated area?

 

[Wendyb1063]

Has it been determined if he had a reason to be there, as in is this a normal running route for him, was he actually out running, or is something else a reason why he was in that isolated area?

He was a competitive runner in high school and continued to run regularly from the news reports I've read and his obituary. It is a popular route for more serious, longer-distance runners (but probably not casual ones) and bicyclists (although fewer bicycles are out in the winter); it is scenic and easily accessible from Mount Horeb.

 

[Wendyb1063]

Still no leads, even after talking to the runner and the truck driver:

Dane Co. Sheriff's Office finds truck, still looking for leads in Day killing