Bio

David Frank Spanbauer was born in January 1941. He grew up in Wisconsin. As a child, Spanbauer faced some challenges. He committed small offenses like stealing, which began at a young age. During his youth, he was arrested multiple times for crimes such as purse snatching and burglary. These early experiences with the law did not lead to serious consequences. For many of these offenses, he would only receive warnings.

When Spanbauer was about fourteen, he was convicted of breaking and entering. This charge led to a probation sentence. His father passed away around this time, which could have impacted his behavior. He later joined the Navy when he was seventeen, but his time there ended with a bad conduct discharge in 1959 due to repeated absences without leave.

After leaving the Navy, Spanbauer struggled to adjust. He returned to high school for a short period but did not complete his education. By early 1960, his legal troubles intensified. In February of that year, he was arrested in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for carrying a concealed weapon and petty theft. He admitted to committing a burglary in Wauwatosa as well, which led to more serious charges against him.

While in custody, Spanbauer confessed to multiple crimes, including armed robbery and rape. His mental health was evaluated during this time, and it was noted that he exhibited signs of severe disturbance. He was described as socially deviant and dangerous.

Throughout the years, Spanbauer spent significant time in prison. He was released multiple times but continued to commit offenses.

Murder Story

David Frank Spanbauer committed several murders in Wisconsin during the early 1990s. His first known victim was 10-year-old Ronelle Eichstedt, who disappeared on August 23, 1992, while riding her bicycle. After extensive searches, her body was found in a farm field in Iowa County on September 30 of that year.

Two years later, Spanbauer kidnapped and murdered 12-year-old Cora Jones. She went missing on September 5, 1994, and her body was discovered five days later in Langlade County. In both cases, Spanbauer abducted the girls while they were biking and disposed of their bodies in remote areas.

Spanbauer also killed 21-year-old Trudi Jeschke on July 9, 1994. He broke into a home where she was housesitting and shot her. Initially, Spanbauer attempted to burglarize this home. He believed it to be unoccupied when he entered.

On November 14, 1994, Spanbauer was arrested after attempting to break into a residence in Combined Locks. A homeowner chased and tackled him, leading to his detention. After his arrest, Spanbauer confessed to the murders of Eichstedt, Jones, and Jeschke, along with other violent crimes, including sexual assaults.

On December 20, 1994, Spanbauer was sentenced to three life terms without the possibility of parole, plus an additional 403 years for his crimes. He died from natural causes in prison on July 29, 2002.