UPDATE: Suspect captured in Germantown – Fond du Lac Police search for convicted sex offender who cut off monitoring bracelet

UPDATE: Shortly before 4:30 PM, the Germantown Police were notified by a Flock Camera that the vehicle used by Maertz was spotted in their city. A search found the vehicle in a Walmart parking lot. Police swarmed the area and found Maertz and took him into custody.

ORIGINAL STORY:

Early Monday afternoon, January 27, 2025, the Fond du Lac Police Department was informed that Chad A. Maertz cut off his GPS monitoring system which disrupted the ability to be tracked by authorities.  Maertz left his residence of 99 W. Division Street and his current whereabouts are unknown.

Fond du Lac Police are asking the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity or sightings of Maertz or his vehicle.  The Fond du Lac Police Department is actively working with all relevant agencies to locate and take Maertz into custody as quickly as possible.

To help you with awareness, police are providing a photo of Maertz and his vehicle.  Should you encounter this individual or observe the vehicle please call 9-1-1 immediately.  

Vehicle: Maertz is known to drive a red 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan displaying a Wisconsin registration plate – ARJ4624, but he was last seen early afternoon in a rental vehicle.

KFIZ has learned Maertz rented a vehicle in Fond du Lac early this afternoon and was seen driving it. The plates and description are a white Hyundai 4 door sedan with Minnesota plates and a license plate of KYJ 296.

Maertz was convicted on December 18, 2002 of abduction of another’s child in Fond du Lac County.