Dale S. Shulfer, a 53-year-old White/Caucasian man, was killed on July 6, 2025, at the rural Portage County home he shared with his wife, Paula L. Shulfer, near Amherst Junction in the Town of New Hope, Wisconsin. What began as a request for deputies to check on the family developed into a double-homicide investigation involving the couple’s son, John L. Shulfer, and two young children who were inside the home when the violence occurred.
Authorities were called to the Krogwold Road residence at about 8:40 p.m. after a woman requested a welfare check because she had been unable to reach the children’s grandmother, who was supposed to participate in a custody exchange that evening. When the first Portage County deputy reached the property, Dale was found outside in the driveway, already dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Paula was subsequently discovered dead in the attached garage. An autopsy later determined that Dale had suffered nine gunshot wounds involving his arms, torso, head and face, while Paula had been shot 12 times.
According to the criminal complaint, the two children inside the residence provided investigators with a disturbing account of what occurred. They reportedly described John becoming angry with Paula and threatening her while armed with a gun. One child told investigators that after the shooting of Paula began, she looked away, then looked back when she believed the gunfire had stopped and allegedly saw John fire several additional rounds at Paula. John reportedly directed the children to go into the basement and watch cartoons. The children remained physically unharmed.
The complaint and subsequent reporting also connected John to Dale’s shooting. Investigators alleged that both Dale and Paula were killed by John during the incident. When one of the children later went outside, Dale was reportedly seen lying dead in the driveway. Authorities have not publicly established a detailed motive for the killings. John later told investigators that his parents had been angry because he had been drinking and claimed he acted in self-defense. He reportedly suggested that Paula might have been going inside to obtain a shotgun. Investigators nevertheless charged him with intentionally killing both victims.
As deputies secured the property and established a perimeter, John was located near the rear of the residence. Authorities said he was armed with pistols in both hands. A deputy ordered him to show his hands, but investigators said John turned toward the deputy and began raising one of the weapons into a position from which it could have been fired. The deputy opened fire, striking John three times. Officers immediately provided medical treatment, and John was flown to a hospital with serious injuries. Investigators recovered two pistols he had apparently been holding and a third handgun nearby. Authorities later said the three firearms were suspected of being connected to the killings.
While being treated at the hospital, John reportedly acknowledged shooting both Dale and Paula, although investigators said his account minimized the number of shots fired. He was eventually medically cleared and transferred to jail. Portage County District Attorney Cass Cousins separately reviewed the deputy’s shooting of John and concluded that the deputy’s use of deadly force was justified because the armed suspect posed an imminent threat of death or great bodily harm.
John L. Shulfer was formally charged with seven felony counts. The case includes two counts of first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of causing mental harm to a child and three counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Prosecutors also alleged dangerous-weapon, domestic-abuse and repeat-offender enhancements in connection with the charges. A court imposed a $2 million cash bond. The intentional-homicide charges expose him to life imprisonment if he is convicted.
The criminal proceedings were substantially delayed by questions surrounding John’s competency to stand trial. He was found incompetent during proceedings in 2025 and underwent treatment before a judge determined in July 2026 that he had regained competency to proceed. His attorneys challenged that finding, but the court ultimately allowed the prosecution to move forward.
In August 2026, John Shulfer entered not-guilty pleas to the charges. A jury trial was scheduled for March 2027. As of the latest available reporting, there has been no conviction or acquittal in the deaths of Dale and Paula Shulfer; John remains the accused defendant, and the homicide allegations have not yet been resolved at trial.
