TOWN OF MAZOMANIE, Wis — Authorities have identified the victim of a deadly incident in Dane County as 70-year-old Thomas B. Muckler, who was killed last Thursday at his home in the Town of Mazomanie.
Investigators believe a 23-year-old suspect broke into Muckler’s residence on the 9800 block of Dunlap Hollow Road around the time Muckler arrived from Madison at approximately 10 a.m. Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said it’s unclear how long the suspect had been inside the home before Muckler encountered him.
Family members grew concerned when Muckler did not attend a scheduled dinner and later reported him missing. Deputies initially checked the home around 8 p.m. Thursday but found no vehicle on the property and no response at the door. Tragically, relatives discovered Muckler deceased just before midnight.
The following morning, police in Marinette attempted to stop a vehicle linked to the case. After a chase and crash on U.S. Highway 41, the suspect confronted officers with a sharp-edged weapon. Despite attempts to subdue him with a taser, he was shot by police and later died at the hospital.
Sheriff Barrett said there is no indication Muckler was targeted or that he knew the suspect. The case remains under investigation.