VILLAGE OF SUMMIT (WITI) — 27-year-old Shawn Witt made his initial court appearance Friday, January 24th after being taken into custody in connection with the death of his father, James Witt.

James Witt was found dead in his residence on Wednesday, January 22nd by the Village of Summit Police Department.

According to authorities, the Village of Summit Police Department responded to a domestic incident between a father and son on Elm Street on Tuesday, January 21st. Following their investigation, they subsequently arrested Shawn Witt for domestic abuse.

Shawn Witt was taken to the Waukesha County Jail where he was eventually served with a temporary restraining order prohibiting any contact with his father or his residence.

Shawn was released on a signature bond after appearing in court that same day.

On Wednesday, January 22nd, Summit police were called back to the Witt residence to check the well-being of James Witt. When police arrived on scene, Shawn Witt indicated that his father had gone up north.

Authorities say when police attempted to confirm that James Witt had traveled north, they located his body wrapped in a blanket on the basement floor.

After the preliminary joint investigation between the Village of Summit Police Department and the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department, it was determined that James Witt died of a gunshot wound.

“They were just down talking to me the other day when I was building my snowman with the grandkids and stuff. Everything seemed fine,” said neighbor Bob Lange.

Shawn Witt was arrested and charged with First Degree Intentional Homicide, Possession of Heroin, 2 Counts of Bail Jumping, 2 Counts of Violation of an Injunction and 2 counts of Theft.

“We certainly have information that heroin was involved in this case. Whether he was under the influence of it or not, we don’t know. We’re looking at all possibilities,” said Waukesha County Sheriff Dan Trawicki.

Shawn Witt is currently being held in the Waukesha County Jail.

FOX6 has learned that the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant related to this case at a home on 35th and Glendale in Milwaukee on Thursday evening, January 23rd.

Authorities have not confirmed whether anyone else has been taken into custody in connection with the case or if any evidence was recovered from this location.
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James A. Witt Jr., 'Jimmy', age 60 of Oconomowoc, passed away unexpectedly at his home on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. Jimmy is survived by his mother Mina and son Shawn along with many other relatives and friends. Jimmy is preceded in death by his father James and brother Tim.

Jimmy graduated from Oconomowoc High School and was a U.S. Army veteran. He worked as an over-the-road truck driver and watched many sunsets on the road with his dog Paco. Jimmy also owned a shoe and leather goods business in Portland, Oregon, enjoyed the outdoors and spending time with his family and friends.

No services are planned at this time.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A judge has set bail at $1 million for a man accused of killing his elderly parents in northwestern Wisconsin. Prosecutors have charged 44-year-old Jim Crain Jr. of Iron River will killing his father and mother, 79-year-old Jim Crain and 76-year-old Eunice Crain, in the couple's Iron River apartment on Dec. 7. Prosecutors have charged Jim Crain Jr. with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide. According to the complaint, Eunice Crain made an emergency call about 6 p.m. Saturday to report that she and her husband were being beaten by their son. When officers arrived, they found the couple dead on the floor. The suspect was in the bathroom with a blood-covered butcher knife next to him. 

The complaint says Jim Crain Jr. had wounds on his neck and wrists. Authorities say Jim Crain Jr. apparently cut himself during the attack. He had been hospitalized in an induced coma, but has been moved from a hospital to jail. Bayfield County Circuit Judge John P. Anderson set Crain's bail at $1 million cash during a hearing Monday. Crain is due in court for an initial appearance on Jan. 14.
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Eunice "Crickett" Crain, age 76, of Iron River, passed away, Saturday, December 7, 2013 at her home. She was born October 19, 1937 in Mio, MI, the daughter of Charles and Ora Ruth.

Eunice graduated High School in Mio, MI. She worked as a beautician in Edwardsburg, MI for a few years. She married Jim Crain on March 14, 1969 in Elkhart, IN. The couple moved to Iron River in 1980 where they owned and operated a dairy farm for several years. Eunice was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She enjoyed cooking, baking, sewing and canning.

She is survived by her four children, Jenifer Morris of Elkhart, IN, Kevin Ruth of Elkhart, IN, Earl (Alice) Ruth of New Bloomfield, MO and Jimmy Crain of Iron River; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

Jim Edbert Crain, age 79, of Iron River, passed away, Saturday, December 7, 2013 at his home in Iron River. He was born December 20, 1933 in Piqua, Ohio, the son of Robert and Florence (Browning) Crain.

Jim was raised and attended schools in Troy, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He married Eunice Ruth on March 14, 1969 in Elkhart, Indiana. Jim worked several different jobs throughout his lifetime. He was a supervisor for Miles Laboratory now the Bayer Company in Ohio for many years. He also worked as a dairy farmer in Iron River and owned his own Semi Truck for several years. He most recently delivered RV's throughout the United States and Canada.

Jim was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, 4-Wheeling and snowmobiling. He was active in the Iron River 4-Wheeling and Snowmobile Clubs and he loved his little dog, Yowzer.

He is survived by his four children, Jenifer Morris of Elkhart, IN, Kevin Ruth of Elkhart, IN, Earl (Alice) Ruth of New Bloomfield, MO and Jimmy Crain of Iron River; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Sue Perkins of Troy, OH.

Five days after police were summoned to the scene of an apparent homicide in the city of Ashland, Ashland police have released some details about the incident that lead to the death of 52-year old William J. Saari.

They provided some chilling details about the death, which they said was the result of multiple stabbing and gunshot wounds at the hands of a 14-year-old male juvenile Saari and his wife, Carolyn Saari, were caring for on behalf of relatives. The suspect was not identified because of his age.
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William "Bill" Saari, 52, of Ashland, passed away, Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at his home. He was born Sept. 18, 1961, in Superior, the son of Roger and Dorothy Switzer.

Bill graduated from Superior Sr. High School in 1979. He continued his schooling at Medford Technical School where he received certificates in technical writing and as a draftsman. Bill worked for Clyde Iron in Superior for a few years.

Bill married Carol Shinaway on July 14, 1994, in Bad River. The couple resided in Ashland where Bill worked as a tech publications team leader for C.G. Bretting Manufacturing Company, Inc. for 26 years.

Bill was a fun-loving and caring man with a wonderful sense of humor and quick wit. He enjoyed playing softball for over 20 years for the Ashland Softball League and was active in the dart and bowling leagues too. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing. He also liked music (Bob Seeger was his favorite) and dancing and loved his dogs, Cuervo and Patron. Bill also embraced the Native American traditions, which became an important part of his life. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Carol of Ashland; father, Roger Switzer of Moose Lake, Minn.; six siblings, Kathy Berndt of Springbrook, Marilyn "Mary" (Roger) Paske of Spooner, Randy (Betty) Berndt of Superior, Sue Hansen of Rib Lake, Scott (Nancy) Berndt of Andover, Minn. and Dennis "Mike" (Sandy) Saari of Springbrook; and numerous nieces, nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and other relatives.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy; mother-in-law, Elizabeth Boswell; and maternal grandparents, Louis and Regina Whitman.