In a quiet home on Elm Street in the Village of Summit, Wisconsin, a grim discovery brought a simmering family conflict to a tragic end. On Wednesday, January 22, 2014, police conducted a well-being check at the residence of 60-year-old James Witt. His son, 27-year-old Shawn Witt, initially told officers his father had gone "up north." However, a search of the home revealed a far more sinister reality. James Witt's body, wrapped in a blanket, was found in the basement.
An investigation by the Village of Summit Police Department and the Waukesha County Sheriff's Department would later confirm that the male victim had died from a gunshot wound.
The events leading up to the discovery of James Witt's body had begun to unfold just a day earlier. On Tuesday, January 21, 2014, the Village of Summit Police had responded to a domestic dispute at the same Elm Street home. Following this incident, Shawn Witt was arrested for domestic abuse. He was taken to the Waukesha County Jail, where he was served with a temporary restraining order that prohibited any contact with his father or his father's residence. Despite the order, Shawn was released on a signature bond after a court appearance that same day.
The subsequent investigation into James Witt's death quickly focused on his son. Shawn Witt was arrested and faced a litany of charges, including First Degree Intentional Homicide, Possession of Heroin, two counts of Bail Jumping, two counts of Violation of an Injunction, and two counts of Theft. The investigation revealed a history of domestic issues between the father and son, and authorities indicated that heroin was a factor in the case. This tragic incident cast a spotlight on the devastating impact of the heroin epidemic in the community.
In April of 2016, the legal proceedings came to a conclusion. Shawn Witt pleaded no contest to a reduced charge of second-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, and domestic abuse repeater. He was sentenced to 47 years in prison, with an additional 20 years of extended supervision. The sentencing marked the end of a case that highlighted the tragic intersection of domestic violence and substance abuse, leaving a family shattered and a community in mourning.
