Name: David John Schultz
Age: 53 years old
Last seen: November 21, 2023
Location: Sac County, Iowa
Status: Found deceased on April 24, 2024
Case Information
53-year-old David John Schultz was last seen in Sac County, Iowa on November 21, 2023. He disappeared while transporting a shipment of baby pigs from Eagle Grove to Sac City.
Background
David John Schultz is a resident of Wall Lake, Iowa. He is married to Sarah Schultz and is the father of 10-year-old twin boys. He works as a livestock truck driver.
Disappearance
At 7:00 pm on November 20, 2023, David Schultz was last seen by his wife when he left their Wall Lake, Iowa home for work.
David reportedly showed up late in his semi-trailer truck to pick up his shipment at the hog confinement in Eagle Grove, Iowa. He left the farm with the hogs around 10:50 pm.
Schultz was supposed to transport his shipment to the Wiechman Pig Company’s hog buying station in Sac City, Iowa, but David never made it to Wiechman’s and hasn’t been heard from since.
Around 11:15 pm, Schultz was last seen on a Iowa Department of Transportation camera at MM126 Truck Stop, east of Fort Dodge on Highway 20, where he stayed for 16 minutes.
He was then seen by a DOT camera on Highway 20 west of the MM 126 truck stop heading west. This was the last time David Schultz was seen.
Cell phone data from November 21, 2023 shows that Schultz subsequently traveled west across the highway before arriving at the intersection of Highway 20 and 71 Junction around 12:18 am.
On November 21, 2023, David’s wife Sarah filed a missing person’s report with the Lake View Police Department when she couldn’t contact her husband.
Investigation
At 3:04 pm on November 21, 2023, David’s vehicle, a red Peterbilt semi-trailer truck with white stripes, was found abandoned on County Road N-14 in northeastern Sac County, Iowa. The truck was turned off with the key in the ignition, left in the middle of the northbound lane near the intersection with D-15.
David’s cellphone and wallet, which contained his driver license and $2,000 in cash, were found inside the truck. The truck was reportedly seen parked at the location since at least 12:40 am, still filled with the hogs.
Authorities recovered a jacket, a towel, a cell phone charger, and a pocket knife in a ditch on the opposite side of the road.
Despite multiple searches by Iowa officials and volunteers that covered more than 100k acres, no further clues as to David’s whereabouts have been found.
In December the Sac County Sheriff’s Office announced a $2,000 reward was being offered for information regarding David’s disappearance.
Body of David Schultz Found
On April 24, 2024, the body of David Schultz was found, not far from the intersection where his semi truck was found on the day he disappeared.
No signs of trauma or major injury were found during David’s autopsy. Since no foul play is suspected his case has been closed and no further details will be released.
Appearance
Physical Description:
White male with brown hair and brown eyes. David is 5’11 tall and weighs 180 pounds.
Clothing & Accessories:
It is unknown what David was wearing when he went missing.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of David Schultz please contact the Sac County Sheriff’s Office at (712) 662-7127.
Resources & Further Information
David John Schultz – Iowa Department of Public Safety
News & Media Links
On Missing Wall Lake Truck Driver – Western Iowa Today 12/2023
Wife of missing Wall Lake truck driver David Schultz: ‘I want my husband. It’s exhausting. It’s awful’ – Sioux City Journal 12/2023
Retracing last known locations of missing Sac County trucker – WHO13 12/2023
Videos & Flyers
What could have been the reason for his disappearance , or led to his disappearance ? .
Did he have a plausible reason for been late for work / shift ? .
Was the complete rig his , or was it a company one , was he a contractor to the company ? .
Was he or any of his family members been threatened in any way leading up to his disappearance ? .
Did he have any financial issues ? .
If nobody could remember what he was wearing at the time , was he already in his work clothes ( overall ‘ s ) , what would he normally wear to work ? .
What condition was the livestock in at the time of discovery compared to when they were loaded ? .