55 Years Ago, a Wisconsin Father of 2 Went to Work as a Wildlife Technician on His 32nd Birthday. He Never Came Home

**Tragic Legacy of Neil LaFave: A Wisconsin Game Warden’s Murder and Its Aftermath**

On September 24, 1971, Neil LaFave was set to celebrate his 32nd birthday as he embarked on what seemed like a routine day of work. A dedicated wildlife technician and game warden with nearly a decade of service at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, LaFave headed to the Sensiba Wildlife Area in Brown County. His mission that day was to post “no hunting” signs in the game preserve. However, when he failed to return home that evening, his family and colleagues were left stunned and worried.

Tragically, the following day revealed the grim truth of LaFave’s fate. His lifeless body was discovered, partly buried in the swampy terrain of the preserve. The forensic evidence shocked investigators; he had been brutally shot multiple times in the face and decapitated, a brutal act that shocked the community and prompted an intensive investigation.

LaFave’s murder left a gaping hole in his family, who at the time included his wife, Peggy, and their two young children, Nicole and Lonny, aged just two and four. The impact of this tragedy sent ripples through the community, and it soon became a landmark case in Wisconsin’s law enforcement history.

In the months following LaFave’s death, authorities focused their investigation on individuals who had previously been cited or arrested by LaFave for hunting violations. The evidence collected from the scene, including bullets and shell casings, pointed towards a specific firearm – a .30-06 rifle. This critical piece of information guided investigators to their prime suspect, Brian Hussong, a 21-year-old who had been apprehended by LaFave earlier that year for hunting pheasants out of season.

The arrest of Hussong marked a significant moment in Wisconsin’s legal history, as it was the first time the state utilised the Electronic Surveillance Law. This law enabled authorities to conduct wiretaps, which ultimately proved crucial in building their case against the young man. Months after LaFave’s murder, authorities recorded a conversation between Hussong and his grandmother, in which he instructed her not to let anyone access the rifle he had left with her.

Acting on this information, police obtained a search warrant, which resulted in the discovery of the rifle linked to LaFave’s killing. In April 1972, Hussong was sentenced to life in prison for the heinous murder of the game warden. However, nearly a decade later, in 1981, Hussong escaped from prison. His flight from the law lasted three months before his life was cut short when he was shot and killed during the recapture attempt.

In the wake of Neil LaFave’s untimely death, the community sought to honour his memory and service. In 1972, a large boulder cenotaph was erected at the entrance of the Sensiba Wildlife Area, serving as a lasting tribute inscribed in his honour. Furthermore, his name is immortalised on the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial, located on the grounds of the State Capitol in Madison.

LaFave’s story stands as a stark reminder of the risks faced by wildlife officials, reflecting the dangers associated with their efforts to protect and preserve natural habitats. His sacrifice is memorialised not only through physical monuments but also in the ongoing commitment of wildlife professionals across Wisconsin who continue to uphold the values of conservation and enforcement in the face of adversity.

Today, the Sensiba Wildlife Area remains a conservation area where individuals can experience the beauty of nature, perhaps reflecting on the legacy of a man who dedicated his life to its protection. Neil LaFave’s tragic murder and the subsequent pursuit of justice were pivotal events in Wisconsin’s history, illustrating the sometimes perilous intersection of law enforcement and wildlife conservation.