Wisconsin crime updates: Cold case arrest and standoff sentencing

In Wisconsin, two separate criminal cases have reached significant developments.

In Fond du Lac County, 83-year-old Jerome Baier has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the 1995 disappearance of his former roommate, James Ruland. Ruland was 40 years old when he vanished following a suspected dispute over money and utility bills. Despite decades of intensive searches involving K9 units, aerial technology, and excavations, Ruland’s remains have not been recovered. However, authorities stated that the sustained investigation provided sufficient probable cause for the arrest. Baier is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

In Milwaukee, Tracy Suggs has been sentenced to one-and-a-half years in prison and two years of extended supervision. The sentencing follows a guilty plea to misdemeanor battery and felony failure to comply stemming from an April 2026 incident. During that event, Suggs reportedly assaulted a woman, causing her to lose consciousness, and engaged in a two-hour standoff with police while armed. A 6-year-old child was present in the home during the tactical situation.