Bradlee Gerke, 36, was found dead on Halloween 2018 in a shallow grave on rural property in Ixonia, Wisconsin. The property owner discovered remains in a tree line; investigators reported burned grass, blood spots, a fragment of skull and that the grave had been covered with gasoline. Authorities concluded Gerke was the victim of a homicide.

Investigators traced the killing to 20-year-old Nigel Schultz of Portage. Schultz initially denied involvement, then confessed, saying he shot Gerke sixteen times with two firearms, a .38-caliber Derringer and a .22-caliber rifle. Schultz told police the motive was that Gerke intended to report him for a parole violation and said he had tried to burn the body in a 50-gallon barrel before burying it.

Two women were implicated afterward. Dakota Schlesner, who lived on the property, was charged with hiding a corpse and admitted helping cover the burial site, saying she was terrified of Schultz. Rebecca Wolc of Beaver Dam faced a felony charge of harboring or aiding a felon. Known court actions related to convictions and pleas were reported.