Human remains found near Illinois border in 1993 identified; murder investigation underway

KENOSHA COUNTY, Wisconsin. – Wisconsin authorities announced this week that they had positively identified human remains found near the Illinois border in 1993.

The Kenosha County Coroner’s Office and Pleasant Prairie Police Department determined that remains found on August 27, 1993, along the Soo Line (now Canadian Pacific) railroad tracks in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, were identified as those of Ronald Louis Dodge.

Police determined that Dodge was born on December 27, 1952, in Keshena, Wisconsin, on the Menominee Indian Reservation.

When his remains were discovered in 1993, police were unable to positively identify them and he was buried in St. John’s Cemetery in Randall, Wisconsin. After positive identification, his remains were returned to his family on the Menominee Reservation.

In December 2014, Kenosha County Coroner Patrice Hall reopened the investigation into John Doe’s death after learning that Pleasant Prairie police had preserved John Doe’s 1993 skull as evidence.

“The Kenosha County Coroner’s Office remains committed to identifying those individuals whose names are not known,” Hall said. “In my nearly 20-year career as a death investigator, Ronald’s case has proven to be the most difficult to solve. I am honored to be able to give Ronald his name back, reunite him with his family and give the Dodge family the answers they have been seeking all these years.”

Hall was also able to determine that Dodge was the victim of a murder, and police reopened their investigation into his death.

Police Chief David Smetana of the Pleasant Prairie Police Department said no suspects, suspicious persons or leads have been identified.

“Our work on the case continues now that new forensic testing has revealed that Ronald Dodge suffered a gunshot wound shortly before his death,” Smetana said. “Our investigators are asking anyone with information on this case to come forward and help our agency bring justice to the Dodge family.”

During the investigation into his death, it was determined that Dodge was married and may have been living on the north side of Chicago at the time of his death. His wife, Kathryn Erickson, died in Chicago in November 1993.

Anyone with information regarding Dodge is asked to contact Pleasant Prairie Police at 262-948-8910 or email [email protected].

Anonymous tips can be sent to Kenosha Area Crime Stoppers at 262-656-7333 or 800-807-8477.