In the quiet town of New Lisbon, Wisconsin, the morning of June 3, 2022, was shattered by an act of targeted violence that claimed the life of John Roemer, a 68-year-old retired Juneau County judge. Law enforcement was dispatched to his home around 6:30 a.m. after receiving a call about an armed individual and the sound of two gunshots. The person who made the call had managed to escape the residence and seek help from a neighbor.
Upon arrival, deputies were met with a tense standoff
that lasted for nearly four hours as they attempted to negotiate with the suspect inside. When the Juneau County Special Tactics and Response Team finally entered the home at approximately 10:17 a.m., they discovered the tragic scene. Judge Roemer was found deceased, having been zip-tied to a chair and fatally shot. The act was described by the Wisconsin Attorney General as a "targeted act" connected to the judicial system.
In the basement of the home, authorities located the sole suspect, 56-year-old Douglas K. Uhde, suffering from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Lifesaving measures were initiated, and he was transported to a medical facility in critical condition. Uhde, however, was declared legally brain-dead the following day and later died after being taken off life support to allow for organ donation. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
The investigation into the murder revealed a clear motive rooted in a past legal encounter between the two men. Court records showed that in 2005, Judge Roemer had sentenced Uhde to six years in prison for a case involving armed burglary and weapons charges. Further investigation uncovered a "hit list" in Uhde's vehicle that included other prominent public figures, such as the governors of Wisconsin and Michigan, and the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, indicating a broader plan of retribution. Those individuals were notified of the potential threat.
