Devils Lake Homicide Update

On Wednesday, October 14th, 2020, at about 11:38 am, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Office and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources began a homicide investigation from an incident that occurred on the Grottos trail on the South Side of Devils Lake State Park outside Baraboo, WI.

An autopsy was performed on October 15th, 2020 at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin and homicide was confirmed. The victim is identified as John Craig Schmutzer, a 24 year old man from Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The cause of death is determined to have been stabbing.

Investigators have learned that in the days prior to this incident, he had visited the Hilldale shopping center in Madison, WI, Wildcat Mountain State Park in Vernon County, WI, the LaValle, WI area in Northwest Sauk County in addition to Devils Lake State Park.

This is an active, ongoing investigation. Most details of the investigation will be kept confidential until the conclusion of the investigation.

Chip Meister

Sauk County Sheriff