Show Notes
The debut episode of "True Crime Wisconsin" investigates the October 14, 2020, killing of 24-year-old John Schmutzer, who was stabbed to death on a trail at Devils Lake State Park in Sauk County. Witnesses reported seeing a man running erratically from the scene, a person police have never identified.
WMTV's Tabitha Bland sat down with Sauk County Sheriff’s Office Detective Sergeant Drew Bulin, the lead investigator on the case, six years after the killing. Bulin shares new details about the investigation, including how close a 911 caller came to interrupting the attack, and describes the unidentified person witnesses saw fleeing the scene.
The episode also examines a 2025 double homicide at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas and addresses why investigators do not believe that case is connected to Schmutzer’s death.
More from True Crime Wisconsin
Donna Mraz was attacked and stabbed early on July 2, 1982, on a sidewalk behind Camp Randall Stadium. She worked at the Bittersweet at 117 State Street and was walking home from her shift when she was attacked, according to archived coverage from News Scene 15, WMTV’s station name at the time. Police activated a major crime unit following the killing. At the time, investigators said they had no known witnesses.