On an autumn day in 2022, the community of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, was shaken by a tragic event that cut short the life of Daniel Zillmer, a 72-year-old White male. On November 10, 2022, authorities were called to a residence in the Town of Manchester, a quiet area near Black River Falls, to check on the welfare of the occupants. Inside, they made a grim discovery that would soon ripple through the close-knit community.
Deputies from the Jackson County Sheriff's Office found Daniel
Zillmer deceased inside the home. It was immediately apparent that his death was not from natural causes. Alongside him was another deceased individual, later identified as 78-year-old William Kerr, also of Black River Falls. The scene prompted an intensive investigation to piece together the events that led to this sorrowful outcome.
The subsequent autopsies, conducted at the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office, brought clarity to the tragic situation. The results revealed that Daniel Zillmer had died from two gunshot wounds. William Kerr's death was determined to be the result of a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. Based on the evidence gathered from the autopsies and the crime scene, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office concluded that the deaths were the result of a murder-suicide.
Investigators determined that William Kerr was the sole suspect in the death of Daniel Zillmer, and with Kerr also deceased, there were no outstanding suspects. The authorities assured the public that this was an isolated incident and that there was no ongoing danger to the community. Following the release of the autopsy findings and the confirmation of the murder-suicide, the case was officially closed, leaving friends, family, and the community to mourn the unexpected and violent loss of a long-time resident.
