Killing of Susan Poupart

Susan Poupart was last seen alive on May 20, 1990, at around 4:00 AM, leaving a party in Lac du Flambeau, Wisconsin, in the company of two men. According to a witness, she was being forced into a vehicle at the time. She was not seen again, and her disappearance triggered a search that would not yield results for six months.

On November 22, 1990, hunters discovered Poupart's purse and identification underneath a pile of harvested trees in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest. Her partial remains were subsequently located in the same area. Investigators also found duct tape and plastic near the remains, suggesting an attempt had been made to conceal the body. Evidence indicated that Poupart had been sexually assaulted before her death.

The two men who had last been seen with Poupart were questioned and testified in court. Both denied abducting her, claiming instead that they had intended to drive her home but had dropped her off near a school rather than at her residence. No charges resulted from this early questioning, and the case went cold for years.

In 2007, a separate man was brought before the court for several hearings after being accused of involvement in Poupart's death. However, the charges against him were ultimately dismissed when witnesses declined to appear, even though several others reportedly gave testimony during the proceedings. Following this, the two men originally seen with Poupart, along with the man charged in 2007, were all considered persons of interest in the case. Investigators continued to interview the three men, but reported receiving little cooperation or new information from them.

In 2014, physical evidence connected to the case was retested for DNA using more advanced forensic technology available at the time. This retesting did not produce any new investigative leads. Local suspicion about the identity of those responsible has reportedly persisted in the community, with authorities noting that many people who may have relevant knowledge have been reluctant to come forward, reportedly out of fear.

In an effort to generate new tips, a billboard describing the case was erected along Highway 47. This effort reportedly had some success, with investigators reporting that they received new information about the case as late as 2016, which was said to have provided some assistance to the ongoing investigation. As of the most recent available reporting, the case remains unsolved, and no one has been convicted in connection with Susan Poupart's death.