Sheriff’s officials in northwest Iowa, Friday night, arrested a man on a felony charge of Murder in the 1st Degree, in connection with the death of a southeast Iowa man. Authorities Saturday night (8/15) said Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Deputies assisted by officials with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), arrested  29-year old Allan Michael Dean Schwidder, of Emmetsburg. He was taken into custody at a location in Lake Park, Iowa, and transported to the Palo Alto County Jail, without incident. Schwidder’s cash-only bond was set at $1-million dollars. He remains in the jail while awaiting his initial court appearance.

His arrest stems from an investigation into a report made 1:16-p.m.  July 22nd by a passer-by,  of a possible body found in Virgin Lake, south of Ruthven. When authorities arrived, the body was seen 25-feet off shore. The Iowa DCI was called-in, and the body transported to the State Medical Examiner’s (ME’s) Office, in Ankeny. The person was later identified as 27-year old Rollin J. Bontrager, of Washington, Iowa.

On July 31st, search warrants were executed at two residences in Emmetsburg. Three vehicles were also searched. Numerous items were seized and will be analyzed. Agencies that assisted in the investigation include: The Iowa DCI; Iowa DNR; Palo Alto County Coroner; Palo Alto County Conservation; The Iowa ME’s Office; Emmett and Clay County Sheriffs’ Offices; Emmetsburg and Spencer Police Departments, and the Iowa DCI Crime Scene Unit.

Anyone with information concerning the incident is encouraged to contact the Palo Alto County Sheriff’s Office at 712-852-3535.