Police seek help in Ledgeview murder probe
BELLEVUE - Investigators in the Nicole VanderHeyden murder are seeking people who may have had contact with her or suspect Douglass Detrie on the night of her death.
The Brown County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone who saw or had contact with either of them on the night of May 20 or morning of May 21 to contact investigators. Anyone with information should call Sgt. Brian Slinger at 920-448-4404 or email him at Slinger_br@co.brown.wi.us.
Related: Ledgeview man arrested in girlfriend's death
Capt. David Poteat, head of the office's investigative unit, said investigators put out the call as a way of "casting out the net, to see if there's any evidence we could be missing, some piece of it missing, an accomplice we aren't aware of, anything of that nature."
It's been more than a week since deputies arrested Detrie, and he has not been formally charged, but Poteat said that kind of delay can be expected given the complexity of a homicide case with no eye witnesses. The call for public assistance is not a sign the investigation is going badly, but rather an attempt to cover all bases, he said.
"Within an investigation, you explore the leads you have, you develop a theory of the crime, you investigate that, but you don't exclude other theories as well, so you have to look for other suspects even after you have someone charged, just to do your due diligence, just to make sure you don't have the wrong person, and that's why we're casting a net, to make sure there isn't any other pieces of information we have or don't have at this point."
The request for help came a day after lawyers agreed to postpone an initial hearing at which Detrie was expected to be charged in connection to VanderHeyden's death.
Detrie had a probable cause hearing a week ago, at which he was ordered to be held on a $1 million bond and his initial hearing was rescheduled until Thursday. Brown County District Attorney David Lasee on Thursday asked for another week, saying investigators and the State Crime Lab still have work to do. Defense lawyers agreed to the postponement and to the sealing of the probable cause documentation on the grounds that having it open to the public could give the "actual" suspect information that would jeopardize his or her arrest. Neither they nor Lasee would comment further, and Poteat provided no additional details Friday.
VanderHeyden's body was found May 21 in a field near Hoffman road and Bellevue Street in Bellevue. Investigators say they found blood near the couple's home in the 2300 block of Berkley Road in Ledgeview. Deputies took Detrie into custody on May 23 based on the blood and other evidence they won't disclose.
At the probable cause hearing a week ago, lawyers indicated investigators believe the couple had a dispute at a tavern prior to VanderHeyden's death. They believe she was strangled and bludgeoned near their home.
Detrie's initial appearance now is set for June 10. He remains in the Brown County Jail.
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