Sheriff Still Seeking Person Of Interest In Wauwatosa Man's Death

WAUWATOSA, WI — The Sauk County Sheriff's Office says they need help from the public to find a "person of interest" seven months after a Wauwatosa man was killed at Devil's Lake State Park.

24-year-old John Schmutzer's body was found in October on Grottos Trail, a trail located on the south side of the east bluff at Devil's Lake.

Since Schmutzer's death, the Sauk County sheriffs and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources say they have put together a description of a "person of interest" based on accounts from "many witnesses" from the area. The description was released on May 5.

Witnesses saw a six-foot, slender to average built man in dark ripped pants and a dark top, possibly a hoodie. The man was running "frantically" and "out of control" north from the parking lot of the Group Camp near South Lake Road, presumably onto or near Grottos Trail according to statement from the sheriffs office.

"We have at least 15 witnesses that saw this person," Sauk County Detective Lt. Chistopher Zunker told WTMJ-TV. "Dark clothing, mask, potential hoodie or hat, ripped out black pants of some sort... scared or uneasy."

Zunker told Patch that there were no updates on the case at this time.

"Based on the timeline of events and locations where this person was reported to be seen, we have identified him as a person of interest in this case, however, we need the public's assistance in providing more information if they have any," a sheriffs office statement said.

The sheriffs office urges anyone who was in the vicinity of Devil's Lake State Park on October 14, 2020 and recalls meeting anyone that fits the description to call Sauk County Crime Stoppers at 1-888-847-7285. Tips can be submitted to tipsubmit.com or by texting "tipsauk" to 274637.