Oct 13, 2026 · 31 min · 11 segments
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…
Tabitha BlandHost
He grew up in Wauwatosa, graduated from Wauwatosa East and UW Madison, was living in Poynette at the time, and was working in financial services in Hill Point.
So if you're not from the Wisconsin area, this is all, I mean, what, within Hour and a couple of-
Um, and if you do live here, you know just how, just how local, uh, Schmutzer really was-
And by all accounts too, like I mentioned, a Wednesday morning, you know, middle of the work week, day off of work for John, gorgeous autumn day.
And Detective Sergeant Drew Bulin told me that investigators did quickly realize, though, this wasn't like most homicides that they work.
You know, we talked to friends and family and coworkers and everybody, and all we learned is that John was a normal guy.
And so we came to the conclusion, um, and still believe that this, uh, this homicide was a result of a random encounter between John and a very violent offender.
So we live in Wisconsin, as we've mentioned, and have seen Devil's Lake State Park a number of times.
He grew up in Wauwatosa, graduated from Wauwatosa East and UW Madison, was living in Poynette at the time, and was working in financial services in Hill Point.
So if you're not from the Wisconsin area, this is all, I mean, what, within Hour and a couple of-
Um, and if you do live here, you know just how, just how local, uh, Schmutzer really was-
And by all accounts too, like I mentioned, a Wednesday morning, you know, middle of the work week, day off of work for John, gorgeous autumn day.
And Detective Sergeant Drew Bulin told me that investigators did quickly realize, though, this wasn't like most homicides that they work.
You know, we talked to friends and family and coworkers and everybody, and all we learned is that John was a normal guy.
And so we came to the conclusion, um, and still believe that this, uh, this homicide was a result of a random encounter between John and a very violent offender.
So we live in Wisconsin, as we've mentioned, and have seen Devil's Lake State Park a number of times.
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