Man arrested in 31-year-old Fond du Lac County disappearance

A 31-year-old missing-person investigation has turned into a homicide case, with a Wisconsin man now under arrest for the death of a Fond du Lac County man who disappeared in 1995.

Detectives with the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office arrested Jerome P. Baier early Friday morning, September 18, 2026, at his residence in rural Marathon County near Spencer. Baier is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the disappearance of James “Jim” Ruland.

Ruland was 40 years old when he disappeared in October 1995. Investigators say he was last confirmed to have been seen on October 24 of that year. A witness later reported possibly seeing Ruland hitchhiking in North Fond du Lac on October 26.

Ruland was living in the Town of Ripon at the time of his disappearance. His vehicle was later found at the Stretch Truck Stop in North Fond du Lac.

For decades, investigators treated the case as a missing-person investigation. Ruland’s information was entered into several nationwide databases, including the National Crime Information Center, the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System and the FBI’s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program.

Over the years, investigators conducted extensive searches for Ruland and his remains. Those efforts included human-remains detection dogs, ground-penetrating radar, aerial searches, large-scale excavations of potential burial sites and searches of waterways by public safety divers.

Detectives also searched a manure pit at a pig farm as part of the investigation.

The Sheriff’s Office says evidence uncovered during the investigation eventually shifted the case from a missing-person investigation to a homicide investigation.

A major development came in 2021, when advances in forensic testing technology prompted detectives to request additional testing of evidence that had previously been submitted to the Wisconsin State Crime Lab.

Investigators say the results helped corroborate information gathered through interviews and other evidence analysis. Additional interviews were conducted, while detectives continued efforts to locate Ruland’s remains.

Ruland’s remains have never been recovered.

Despite that, investigators say the evidence developed during the 31-year investigation provided sufficient probable cause to support an arrest.

Working with the Fond du Lac County District Attorney’s Office, detectives obtained a search warrant for Baier’s residence. The warrant was served early Friday morning, and Baier was arrested.

Baier was Ruland’s roommate at the time of Ruland’s disappearance.

Baier was taken to the Fond du Lac County Jail, where he remains in custody.

A criminal complaint charging Baier with first-degree intentional homicide was filed following his arrest.

Baier is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Fond du Lac County Court at 11 a.m. Monday, September 21.

The Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office says the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and the Marathon County Sheriff’s Office assisted with the investigation.

Ruland’s family has requested privacy and has asked that media members not contact them for comment.

The investigation remains active, and authorities are continuing efforts to locate Ruland’s remains.

Anyone with information related to the case is asked to contact Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant of Detectives Alex Volm at 920-924-2406 or Detective Dave Olig at 920-906-4799. Anonymous tips can be submitted through the Fond du Lac County Law Enforcement Tip Line at 920-906-4777.