Pleasant Prairie Police Department

2004 New Releases Archive

3/8/2004 | Hanging Victim Found
(PLEASANT PRAIRIE, WI) On Sunday March 7, 2004 at 10:41 A.M., Pleasant Prairie Police were summoned to a wooded area behind the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center at 11800 108th Street in the Village of Pleasant Prairie after a citizen in the parking lot of the hotel observed a human body hanging by the neck from a tree there.

The body is in an advanced state of decomposition, but appears to be that of a male at least 40 years of age. The individual had graying hair cut short and possibly facial hair also graying. He was 5-4 to 5-6 inches in height and of slim build. The man had had extensive dental work, most likely not done in the United States. It appears that the body had been there since before the leaf fall in the autumn of 2003.

Officers responding to the call located the vehicle driving in the area and took the lone operator, Bruce W. Franklin Jr, 18 of 4940 42nd Avenue, Kenosha into custody. Police then began checking homes in the area where the three men were last seen on foot. Officers discovered an entry to the residence at 11441 1st Avenue and surrounded that home. Police then entered after their was no response to repeated warnings to exit the house. Inside, officers found the two juveniles and one adult male, Isaias E. Mares of 5428 24th Avenue, Kenosha hiding in the garage. One of the juveniles and the adult were found to be armed with loaded handguns apparently stolen from the house and all were in possession of various other stolen property from the residence and were taken into custody without further incident.

There was no identification with the body and Detectives are working to identify the person. The body was taken by the Kenosha County Medical Examiner.

Investigation is continuing.

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