The family of David Schultz, a northwest Iowa man reported missing last fall, has confirmed his tragic demise after his body was discovered in Sac County.
Schultz, 53, was first reported missing by his wife, Sarah, on November 21, 2023.
Sarah Schultz informed KCCI that her husband’s body was located in a farmer’s field, and identification was made by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office through his distinctive boots.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigations disclosed that the remains were found near the intersection where Schultz’s semi-truck was initially located on the day of his disappearance, shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Authorities are arranging for the transportation of the remains to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner for further examination. Presently, no additional details have been provided.
Schultz’s Disappearance: Schultz departed from his Wall Lake residence around 7 p.m. on November 20, intending to collect a load of pigs from hog confinement in the Eagle Grove area. He departed around 10:50 p.m.
Surveillance footage captured Schultz at a truck stop at approximately 11:15 p.m. on November 20. Subsequently, his semi-truck was observed heading west on Iowa Department of Transportation cameras.
Cell phone data traced Schultz’s phone to the vicinity where his semi-truck was discovered—the intersection of D-15 and N-14. Records suggest the semi-truck may have been there since 12:40 a.m. on November 21.
The following morning, Schultz failed to deliver his load of pigs at the Wieckman hog buying station in Sac City. His wife, Sarah Schultz, reported him missing that afternoon upon learning of his absence at Wieckman’s.
A Sac County Secondary Road employee reported the presence of a semi-truck at the intersection of D-15 and N-14 since early this morning. Upon investigation, deputies confirmed it to be Schultz’s vehicle, with his phone and wallet found inside.
Search Efforts: Following Schultz’s disappearance, the United Cajun Navy, a Louisiana-based search and rescue group, coordinated a volunteer search effort. Nearly 200 volunteers participated in the extensive search, covering over 100,000 acres.
Tragically, during the search operation, the body of another missing individual, 54-year-old Mark Riesberg of Calhoun County, was discovered deceased in his vehicle.
Reward for Information: An initial reward of $2,000 for information regarding Schultz’s disappearance escalated several times, reaching nearly $30,000 before the discovery of his body.