WHERE Incident Happened: Smith and Cruson Slough Day Use Area, US Hwy 14, Lone Rock

What happened: On 08/13/2023 at approximately 8:23pm, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle that was included in an attempt to locate (ATL) for a “check welfare” request out of the City of Madison. Two Madison women were reported missing by a family member after they failed to return home after a hike at Devil’s Lake State Park. A phone ping was conducted and allowed a deputy with Richland County to locate the vehicle in the Smith and Cruson Slough DNR land, just off of US Hwy 14, near Lone Rock. The deputy located two females dead inside the vehicle due to an apparent murder-suicide. A 25-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound and a 60-year-old woman was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Nothing else suspicious was located at the scene and there is no perceived threat to the public.

The investigation remains ongoing and the names of the deceased females are being withheld at this time pending proper notification of family members and more information will be released at a later date.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County Coroner

WHO Involved: Sean P Burns, 44, of Richland Center, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: County Highway Q at Chicken Ridge Road

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on 06/23/2023 at approximately 10:20 pm the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Richland Center Fire Department, and Richland EMS responded to the area of County HWY Q and Chicken Ridge Rd for the report of a UTV Crash with injuries. Investigation of the incident showed 44 year old Sean Burns to be the lone occupant/operator of the UTV in question. While traveling Eastbound on County HWY Q near Chicken Ridge Rd, control of the UTV was lost while attempting to negotiate a corner. This caused the UTV to overturn in the roadway, resulting in injury to the operator. Burns was transported by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash.

ARREST or CHARGES: Cited for Intoxicated Operation of ATV/UTV State Statute 23.33(4c)(a)1

Other Agencies Involved: Richland EMS and Richland Center Fire Department

WHO Involved: Darnell Edwards, 47, of Boscobel, WI
Lyndzi Edwards, 38, of Boscobel, WI
Corey Clark, Juvenile, of Boscobel, WI
Dezzerrae Edwards, Juvenile, of Boscobel, WI
Kelli Neitzel, 32, of Muscoda, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: State Hwy 60 just west of State Hwy 193

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on June 6, 2023 at approximately 11:52 A.M., Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call reference a two car accident with multiple injuries. Reporting party advised the crash was located at the intersection of State Hwy 60 and State Hwy 193, The vehicle traveling westbound, operated by Darnell Edwards with three passengers. Four individuals were transported to Gunderson Hospital in Boscobel with minor injuries. drugs or alcohol are not believed to be contributing factors of the accident.

ARREST or CHARGES: None

Other Agencies Involved: Richland EMS, Muscoda Fire Dept., Blue River EMS, Boscobel EMS, Wisconsin State Patrol

WHERE Incident Happened: 30858 County Hwy I, Cazenovia

What happened: On May 25th, 2023 at approximately 9:30 AM, Cazenvoia EMS was requested to Bunker Hill Campground for an unresponsive male. It was determined after EMS arrived on scene that the male party was deceased. During the investigation it was determined that there was suspicious circumstances involving the death of the male party. Assistance was requested from The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, The Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Richland Center Police Department. At this time the investigation is still ongoing. There is no danger to the public. More information will be released as soon as possible.

Other Agencies Involved: WI Department of Justice Crime Unit, The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, WI State Patrol, Cazenovia EMS, Richland Center Police Department

WHO Involved: David S Rott, 72, of Richland Center

WHERE Incident Happened: USH 14 just West of CTH KK in Akan Township

What happened:Rott was operating a 2010 Mack Semi pulling a trailer traveling east on USH 14 near CTH KK. The semi traveled into the southbound ditch and eventually overturned, causing severe damage to semi and injuries to Rott. Rott was transported by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital due to his injuries. Due to witness statements, the Wisconsin State Patrol was contacted and the crash is still under investigation.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Richland County Highway Department, Wegner Towing, and Richland County EMS

WHO Involved: Joseph Abitz, 54, of Dubuque, IA

WHERE Incident Happened: County Hwy OO

What happened:Sheriff Clay Porter reports that on 03/29/2023, at approximately 5:02 P.M. Iowa County 911 received the initial call of an emergency incident and transferred the call to Richland County 911 regarding a male party that was involved in an logging accident. The witness stated that they were working on a log skidder and the hydraulic line broke, hitting the victim in the face, causing him to be unresponsive. The victim was wedged along the tire and the engine compartment of the log skidder when emergency personnel arrived on scene. Muscoda EMS, Fire and Police responded to the scene. Avoca Police was also notified of the incident and all responding units were directed to field where the accident took place. Emergency personnel were able to get the victim off the log skidder, where medical personnel began their medical treatment. The victim was transported to the Richland Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the investigation it was found that the victim was removing a pressure hydraulic accumulators and unknown to the victim one accumulator was still under pressure. While attempting to remove it the pressure caused the accumulator to come lose and hit the victim in the head.

Other Agencies Involved: Muscoda EMS, Muscoda Fire, Muscoda Police, and Avoca Police.

WHERE Incident Happened: 20375 Tuckaway Valley Rd, Richland Center, WI 53581

What happened: Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call of a house fire at 20375 Tuckaway Valley Rd, Richland Center, WI 53581 from a neighbor. Responding Deputies arrived to a house fully engulfed and collapsed. A male party was located standing near the shed next to the house. The male party stated that he was able to escape through a main floor window, but believed his wife was still inside the residence. Due to the house being collapsed and fully engulfed in flames, deputies were unable to attempt rescue. Male party was transported to the Richland hospital via Richland EMS and Richland Fire worked on extinguishing the fire. Deputies spoke with male party at the hospital after he had been medically examined, and he stated that it was roughly 10:45pm when he noticed the fire and escaped out of the house. The male party stated he was unable to contact anyone at the time he escaped the residence. The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was contacted for a Fire Marshal to Investigate the scene and assist in the search of male parties wife. Emergency personnel were eventually able to conduct a search of the residence and located a deceased party.

This complaint is still under investigation.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Fire Department, Richland County EMS, and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation

WHO Involved: Bruce C Anderson, 66, of Lone Rock, WI
Jamie A Zinkle, 33, of Lone Rock, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: County Hwy B just East of County Hwy BA

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on 02/07/2023 at approximately 6:45pm, Richland County Dispatch received a report of a vehicle that had struck a pedestrian on County Hwy B just East of the intersection of County Hwy BA. Deputies arrived on scene minutes after the call was reported to dispatch and were able to render aid to the injured pedestrian, Bruce Anderson until Medical First Responders arrived on scene. Deputies made contact with the reporting party and operator of striking vehicle, Jamie Zinkle on scene to gather information regarding the incident. Zinkle did not show any signs of impairment while speaking with deputies and voluntarily submitted to testing. Anderson was transported to the Richland Hospital by Lone Rock EMS for life threatening injuries. Anderson was transported by Med Flight to UW Madison where he succumbed to his injuries. The vehicle was removed from the scene by Wegner’s Auto Service and Wisconsin State Patrol assisted with the Technical Reconstruction of the crash.

This crash is still under investigation.

ARREST or CHARGES: Pending due to investigation.