‘Person of interest’ arrested in county homicide

A “person of interest” in the May 15 homicide near Ettrick has been arrested, according to the Trempealeau County Sheriff’s Department. 

In a release sent to the Times last Friday afternoon, the sheriff’s department said it developed a person of interest early in the investigation and made an arrest for an unrelated charge. 

Sheriff Brett Semingson said investigators were still collecting evidence and planned to work on the case through last weekend. He said the department hoped to turn the case over to the Trempealeau County District Attorney’s office to decide on charges early this week. 

Semingson said the suspect’s name won’t be released until a decision on charges has been made by DA John Sacia. 

The sheriff said the investigation has gone quickly.

“I am impressed by how unusually fast this investigation has gone and that is a result of the hard work and cooperation of the many investigators and agencies involved,” Semingson said. 

The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, Wisconsin State Patrol and sheriff’s departments from Jackson and La Crosse counties have assisted with the investigation. 

Police have still not released the name of the victim or the cause of death. Semingson said possible Marsy’s Law considerations don’t allow immediate release of the victim’s name. Marsy’s Law protects the civil rights of victims.

A press release issued May 17 said the death was being investigated as suspicious before it was declared a homicide May 19

The release said the death occurred on Highway 53 near County Road TT in the town of Ettrick. Police asked for any surveillance and dash camera videos taken between Galesville and Blair between 7 and 9 p.m.