Rosendale Incident – Update

On Friday, April 05, 2013 at 3:17 pm the Fond du Lac County 911 Center received a request for a welfare check at 200 N Main Street in the Village of Rosendale. Information was received of possible smoke inside the residence and possibly someone inside the residence. Information led deputies and firefighters to evacuate the area around the residence, and to set up a tactical perimeter around the residence. STH 26 was closed and traffic detoured. Upon arriving at the residence, deputies noted the windows covered in black soot, a gas can outside the residence and a strong smell of gasoline coming from inside the residence. There was a cord running from the residence to the garage, to what was later determined to be fireworks. Based on the information and observations, deputies set up a tactical perimeter around the residence to protect firefighters as they worked the fire. The residence suffered significant fire damage and the body of a Joseph M. Shafer 10/16/58 was found in the residence. Investigation indicates this was a pre planned event by the victim. The investigation is continuing by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office and the State Fire Marshals Office. Assisting at the scene was Rosendale Police Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol. Fire departments on scene were the Rosendale Fire Department, Eldorado Fire Dept, Ripon Rural Fire Department and Lamartine Fire Department. Ripon EMS responded with 2 ambulances, assisted by the Rosendale First Responders.