Mark Tobin New Glarus, WI body found 11/21/07

[Mysticalmom]

http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/282517
Family of murdered man offers $10,000 for information

The murder of carpenter Mark Tobin, unsolved since his body was found in rural Green County west of New Glarus in November, took a turn Monday as his family offered a $10,000 reward for information.

It is hoped the reward, announced by the Green County Sheriff's Department, would provide leads in an investigation that has already included more than 700 interviews, said chief deputy Jeff Skatrud.

The department has provided few details on the death, other than it was violent and it involved drugs. Results of a search authorized for Tobin's rural home have been sealed for months.

"We wanted to let people, particularly the people in our area, know that we are still working on the murder," said Skatrud, "and we stick by our belief that Mr. Tobin was targeted."

He said it was the family's idea, particularly Tobin's father, Monte Tobin, to offer the reward through the State Bank of Newburg. The family will administer the account, said Skatrud.

After five months of investigation, Skatrud said detectives hope the reward will shake loose some memories.

"We would really be interested in learning about people who may have bragged about being involved, or have some knowledge that is much more than the common person might know," said Skatrud.

Officials have not said how Tobin was killed, for example, said Skatrud, except to say it was "violent" and that he was "targeted" and that it was "narcotic related."

[Mysticalmom]

http://www.wbay.com/global/story.asp?s=7397131

Autopsy today for man found dead in apparent Green County murder

Associated Press - November 22, 2007 12:15 PM ET

NEW GLARUS, Wis. (AP) - Authorities in Green County say an autopsy will be performed today on a man found dead in his rural home.

The sheriff's department is treating the death of 38-year-old Mark Tobin as a homicide.

His body was found yesterday afternoon in his home about six miles west of New Glarus. Sheriff Randy Roderick says a friend who hadn't heard from Tobin in a while went to the house and found him lying on the floor.

Tobin's wife told authorities she hadn't been home this week because she goes to college in Milwaukee during the weekdays. A tenant who lives in an attached rental property said he works out of the area and also hadn't been home in a few days.

Deputies expect the investigation of the scene will take several days.

[Mysticalmom]

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/11/25/0711260236.php

'a Violent Act' Killed Rural New Glarus Man
Wisconsin State Journal :: LOCAL :: D3
Sunday, November 25, 2007
State Journal staff, wire reports

A man found dead in his rural New Glarus home died from "a violent act," according to preliminary results of an autopsy released Saturday by the Green County Sheriff's Department.

Sheriff Randy Roderick said it would be several weeks before further tests determine exactly what killed Mark Tobin, 38, a self-employed carpenter who was found dead Wednesday. Roderick said the case, under way with the help of the state Division of Criminal Investigation, remains a homicide investigation. He said no suspects have been identified.

He said other details of the investigation are being kept confidential to preserve the integrity of the investigators' work.

A news release from the sheriff's department said that police and state Crime Laboratory personnel are expected to be at Tobin's home on Highway 39 for several more days.

[Mysticalmom]

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/11/23/0711220197.php

Sheriff: Murder, But No Suspects
Friday, November 23, 2007

Green County authorities said they have no suspects in the death of a man who they believe was murdered this week and whose body was found on Wednesday.

Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick declined to say how Mark C. Tobin died, pending the results of an autopsy in Madison, scheduled for today. Tobin, 38, was found at his residence Wednesday about six miles west of New Glarus.

"We have an indication of how the death occurred, but we're waiting for the autopsy to confirm it," he said.

Roderick also wouldn't speculate about why Tobin was killed, and he said he was aware of Tobin's possible criminal history. Court records show that a Mark C. Tobin was twice convicted of manufacturing and distributing less than 500 grams of marijuana in Brown County.

Authorities discovered Tobin's body Wednesday. A friend called authorities after hearing from Tobin's wife, who said she hadn't heard from her husband in a few days, Roderick said.

Tobin's wife, Maureen Tobin, attends school in Milwaukee and lives there on weekdays, Roderick said.

Roderick said he was unaware when Tobin, who may have worked as a carpenter, was last seen by his wife or by a man who rented an apartment attached to Tobin's home. That man worked out of the area, Roderick said.

Tobin owned the home and had lived there for the last five years, Roderick said. The couple don't have children, he said.

The state crime lab and the Department of Criminal Investigation are assisting in the investigation, Roderick said.

He called the death "an isolated incident" and said area residents weren't in danger.

[Mysticalmom]

http://www.madison.com/archives/read.php?ref=/wsj/2007/12/06/0712060245.php

Homicide Related To Drugs, Sheriff Says
Wisconsin State Journal :: LOCAL :: D3
Thursday, December 6, 2007

The murder of a Green County man was "narcotic related," and "not a random act," Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said Wednesday.

The body of Mark C. Tobin, 38, was found at his home six miles west of New Glarus on Nov. 21.

Roderick issued a news release to announce the results of a search of home have been sealed. Detectives and crime scene investigators spent nine days at the home, he said. Roderick refused to elaborate on the progress of the investigation.

No one has been arrested in connection with Tobin's death, he added. Court records show that a Mark C. Tobin was twice convicted of manufacturing and distributing less than 500 grams of marijuana in Brown County.

[Mysticalmom]

http://www.madison.com/tct/top5/313265

Mike Miller — 11/06/2008 7:21 pm

Nearly a year after the murder of Mark C. Tobin at his rural New Glarus home, authorities are now coming forth with new information, including that Tobin ran a large-scale marijuana growing operation and essentially led a double life.

Despite a lengthy and intense investigation, no one has been arrested and charged in the murder.

Although law enforcement officials previously said the murder was drug related, they have not previously talked about the direct role Tobin had in drug dealing or the scale of his operation. The search warrant executed at his residence in the Green County town of York was sealed by the court at the request of investigators.

But in a statement Thursday Green County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Jeff Skatrud explained what was found at Tobin's home between New Glarus and Blanchardville after his murder on Nov. 21, 2007.

"During the investigation into Mr. Tobin's death, law enforcement discovered a highly sophisticated, large- scale indoor marijuana growing operation inside of the two-story garage," on the property which he bought in 2002.

"Hundreds of marijuana plants in different stages of (growth) were seized from the garage as well as a quantity of processed marijuana," Skatrud said. "Lighting and growing equipment, packaging, storage and equipment used to power the growing operation were also seized."

Tobin had lived in several other communities before buying the Green County property in 2002, and he had the home extensively remodeled and constructed the two-story garage he did not permit people to enter, Skatrud said.

"Essentially, Mark Tobin had two lives; one which involved his family and small circle of social acquaintances and the other, his contacts that were involved or had knowledge of his marijuana growing operation and the distribution network. Identifying the latter group has proved to be a challenge and persons that have been identified have generally been less than forthcoming," Skatrud said.

In April of 2008, Tobin's family announced they were offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for Tobin's death.

"Thus far," said Skatrud, "that reward has not led to an arrest but it remains in effect."

Meanwhile, Green County officials still have not released the cause of Tobin's death or the facts surrounding the murder, and the search warrant which speaks to those issues remains sealed.

"Detectives believe that releasing the details of the crime scene would compromise the investigation," Skatrud said.

Tobin was sentenced to one year in prison in October of 1993 for being party to the crime of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, and was paroled in July of 1994.

Skatrud said it appeared from the investigation that Tobin had few local friends and had been described as being very secretive.

"He had few visitors that people knew of and the conversations with those visitors were reportedly held in secret," Skatrud said.

Detectives would like to talk to those people or anyone else who has information on the murder. The Green County Sheriff's Department can be contacted at 608-328-9400. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the Green County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-422-7463.

[packy]

Maybe releasing the cause of death and some of the facts could cause enough impact on someone to come forth. Doesn't seem like the reward is doing much good at this point.