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Dane County Sheriff's Office

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION - UPDATED INFO

November 01, 2008
Contact: Elise Schaffer, PIO Phone: (608) 576-3016
Sheriff's Office

Madison, WI: On October 31, 2008, at approximately 2:16 p.m., Dane County deputies, Cross Plains Police and Cross Plains EMS responded to an apartment in the 2500 block of Valley Street in the Village of Cross Plains for a reported shooting. The initial information received was that two people at the apartment had been shot and the suspect had fled the area in a pick up truck. Upon arrival it was determined that one person was killed and the other was seriously injured. The suspect vehicle was located in the City of Middleton and was not occupied. The suspect in this incident has been preliminarily identified as Charles E. Witzel, Jr. , white male, age 42 who has ties to Arena and Loganville WI. Witzel is approximately 6’, 180 pounds, long brown hair and blue eyes. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Witzel is asked to call 911 immediately. Witzel is considered armed and dangerous. Dane County Sheriff’s Office and Cross Plains Police are continuing to search for Witzel and investigate this incident. Anyone with other information related to the case is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 255-2345. VICTIM’S IDENTIFIED The deceased is identified as Craig A. Severson, age 45, of Cross Plains. A second individual shot in the residence has been identified as Lisa M. Morgan, age 27, also of Cross Plains. Morgan is listed critical condition at an area hospital. Investigators spent much of the overnight executing a search warrant, and evidence processing at 2530 Valley Street, in Cross Plains. Detectives spent the night following up on leads and attempting to locate Witzel. The investigation is ongoing and will continue. UPDATED VEHICLE INFO ****Suspect may be travelling in a silver colored 1992 Toyota pickup truck. FUTURE PRESS UPDATES The next press release or update is tentatively scheduled to be released sometime around noon, today, Saturday, November 1, 2008.
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