The disappearance of a Dodge County woman is now being investigated as a cause of death

DODGE COUNTY (WLUK) — The investigation into the disappearance of a Dodge County woman is now being treated as a death investigation, authorities announced Wednesday.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office issued a news release last Thursday regarding the search for missing 37-year-old Crystal Rasch of rural Clyman. The following day, her estranged husband, 42-year-old Zachariah Rasch, was taken into custody.

The sheriff’s office said that during the course of the investigation into Crystal’s disappearance, it discovered that “numerous transactions” had occurred through her accounts. They concluded that Zachariah was responsible for those transactions, “and they were conducted without consent.”

He was arrested on multiple counts of alleged unauthorized use of a person’s personal information. Bail was set at $250,000 at his first court appearance.

Officials said Friday they were treating the case as if “a serious crime had likely been committed.” Zachariah has not been charged in his wife’s disappearance or death.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office said it would not release details of the death investigation to protect the integrity of the extremely active case. More information would be released “in due course,” it said.