Lake Park, Iowa — a 29-year-old Emmetsburg man was arrested in Lake Park Friday evening in connection with a murder that took place near Ruthven back on July 22nd.
According to the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, Allan Michael Dean Schwidder was arrested at a Lake Park residence on a warrant charging him with 1st Degree Murder.
On July 22nd, Palo Alto County authorities received a report of a possible body in Virgin Lake, south of Ruthven. Upon arriving deputies discovered a body about 25 feet from shore. According to the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation was called and the body, later identified as 27-year-old Rollin J. Bontrager of Washington, Iowa, was removed from the lake and transported to the Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny.
On July 31st, authorities say search warrants were executed at two separate residences in Emmetsburg. Three vehicles were also searched, and numerous items were seized and sent for analysis.
Following his arrest Friday evening, Schwidder was housed in the Palo Alto County Jail at Emetsburg in lieu of a one-million-dollar bond.
Authorities say the investigation is continuing into the case.
Palo Alto County authorities were assisted in their investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Palo Alto County Coroner, Palo Alto County Conservation, Iowa Medical Examiner’s Office, the Emmet and Clay County Sheriff’s Offices, the Emmetsburg and Spencer Police Departments, and the Iowa DCI Crime Scene Unit.
Deputies say the Dickinson County Sheriff’s Office and Lake Park Police Department assisted in Schwidder’s arrest.
