(Emmetsburg)– Palo Alto county authorities announced today (Sat.) an arrest has been made in connection with a body that was found in a lake in that county last month. The body of 27-year-old Rollin Bontrager of Washington, Iowa was discovered in Virgin Lake near Ruthven July 22nd by a passerby.
Deputies with the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office executed search warrants July 31st at two residences in Emmetsburg. Three vehicles were also searched. A number of items were seized and analyzed. An arrest warrant was then issued for 29-year-old Allan Michael Dean Schwidder of Emmetsburg, charging him with 1st degree murder. Schwidder was arrested around 8:40 pm Friday at 102 Avenue A East in Lake Park. Schwidder was transported to the Palo Alto county jail where he’s being held on bond of one million dollars cash only.
The Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Clay, Dickinson and Emmet County Sheriff’s Offices, Iowa DNR, Palo Alto County Conservation, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office, and the Emmetsburg, Spencer and Lake Park Police Departments.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
