FDL Man Pleads Guilty to Murder in Dodge County Court

A 21-year-old Fond du Lac man has pled guilty to a charge of First Degree Intentional Homicide for the shooting death of a Beaver Dam man. A news release issued Friday says Nigel Schultz pled guilty to the charge in Dodge County Court. Schultz shot Bradlee Gerke 16 times in the back of the head and torso and buried him in a shallow grave. Schultz told sheriff’s deputies he killed Gerke because Gerke was going to turn him in to police. Schultz killed Gerke shortly after being released from prison for a previous felony.

Schultz’s conviction requires a mandatory life sentence in prison; however, a judge can authorize a release date any time after 20 years. Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg says he is recommending Schultz never be released from prison. Klomberg said in a statement, “I am asking the court to sentence Schultz to spend the rest of his life in prison for this unbelievably violent and premeditated murder.” He went on to praise the work of the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office, the State Crime Lab, the Wisconsin State Patrol and the staff in the DA’s office, along with many others for their work on the case.

Schultz is due in court for a sentencing hearing on January 7^th of 2020.