A death investigation is now underway in the case of the missing person Crystal Rasch

The sheriff’s office continues to investigate the disappearance of Crystal Rasch, “but has determined that the case is no longer a missing person investigation and is now a death investigation,” Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said in a statement Wednesday.

“To protect the integrity of the investigation, no details of the death investigation will be released as it is still a very active investigation,” Schmidt said.

Rasch’s estranged husband, Zachariah Rasch, is being held on $250,000 bail. He allegedly used his wife’s debit card to withdraw thousands of dollars in cash and buy hundreds of dollars worth of cleaning supplies, drain cleaners, chemical-resistant gloves and other items, according to a criminal complaint.

Rasch, 42, of Juneau, is the “prime suspect” in the disappearance of 37-year-old Crystal Rasch of the Clyman area, Dodge County Court Commissioner Steven Seim said at Rasch’s first court appearance Friday.

Crystal Rasch was reported missing on June 23 after her family discovered that no one had spoken to her since June 11. She filed for divorce in September 2023, saying in court documents that her husband threatened her with abuse when she filed for divorce in 2019.

Zachariah Rasch was charged with seven counts of identity theft for profit. He appeared in Dodge County court on Wednesday. Rasch was eligible to have a public defender assigned to his case, but he has not yet been assigned one. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled for August 1.

According to a criminal complaint, a 2023 Mitsubishi Eclipse registered to Zachariah Rasch was found on property owned by his family near Adams. It has “significant evidentiary value in the vicinity (of a missing person) and is currently being investigated by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab in Madison.”

Although Zachariah Rasch is only charged with identity theft, there is a connection to the missing persons case, Dodge County Chief Prosecutor James Barkei said at Rasch’s first appearance.

Barkei said Crystal Rasch’s mother told authorities she traveled to Michigan to visit her brother, but her brother said she never arrived.

A Facebook page was created in Crystal’s name and family and friends received a message stating that the page was from Crystal.

“I’m fine, I just need some time. I’m with some friends. Zach doesn’t need to know where I am,” Barkei said in the message, adding that the specific mention of Zachariah Rasch was a warning sign.

Zachariah Rasch was also identified via video as the person who used Crystal’s debit card multiple times at stores and ATMs in Beaver Dam, Watertown and Juneau, Barkei said.

Items purchased included several bottles of drain cleaner, a portable air cooler, gasoline for his vehicle, additional drain cleaner, and several cleaning supplies and items for a vehicle, as well as chemical resistant nitrile gloves.

There were also five ATM withdrawals. In total, $6,500 from purchases and withdrawals was missing from Crystal Rasch’s account.

Crystal Rasch and Zachariah Rasch no longer lived together and had separate bank accounts, Barkei said. Crystal’s car remained parked in front of her house.

Crystal had two phones, one last used on June 8 and the other on June 17 in Wisconsin Dells, where Zachariah’s family owns land.

Anyone with information on Crystal Rasch’s whereabouts can call the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 920-386-4590. You can also email tips to [email protected] or use the sheriff’s app.Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or call 920-356-6760