The head of the Wisconsin State Patrol’s Bureau of Transportation Safety and his wife were killed by their 25-year-old son before he killed himself after a standoff, according to authorities.
David and Teri Pabst, both 64 years old, were identified as those killed on July 8, according to a press release by the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office. Autopsies were completed July 9 and the cause and manner of death for the couple is pending, with more testing being done.
The suspect, who was confirmed in a Facebook post from the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office to be the victims’ son James Pabst, killed himself following a standoff about 80 miles from the double homicide of the married couple. That came after he fled the town of Middleton home in a white 2020 Honda Accord and was later found by the Wisconsin State Patrol, the Sheriff’s Office said.
The Viroqua Police Department, the Vernon County Highway Department and Vernon County Emergency Management assisted in the pursuit.
James Pabst did not comply with verbal commands and the standoff ensued. At 5:21 p.m., officers confirmed the son sustained self-inflicted gun wounds and no signs of life existed. Paramedics responded, but James Pabst was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:15 p.m. by Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh.
David and Teri’s three daughters, Lora, Danielle and Heidi, issued a statement on July 10.
“They were proud grandparents to seven grandchildren and the most loving parents to all five of their children,” the statement said. “If you were lucky enough to have encountered them in your life, you know what kind, generous, and empathetic people they were.”
Teri was a lifelong educator, who recently worked for the Madison Metropolitan School District at Thoreau Elementary.
“Every day, she dedicated her heart and soul to the children she worked with, many of whom had complex needs,” her daughters wrote. “Our mom thrived when she could make a difference in the life of a child. Please know that if you ever worked with her or had a child who was lucky enough to be taught by her, that our family heard daily about how proud she was of you.”
Teri also formerly worked at the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District between 2017 and 2022, the district said in a statement. She worked as a special education teacher, paraeducator and case manager, the statement said.
“Teri was a kind and compassionate educator,” said Dominique Ricks, principal of Kromrey Middle School. “Her colleagues remember her as someone who was always willing to help others.”
David has been the state patrol bureau director since 2013. Before that he spent 25 years as a law enforcement officer, rising from trooper and inspector in the State Patrol Northwest Region to sergeant, lieutenant and captain at State Patrol headquarters in Madison.
“Our dad was proud to come from a long line of public servants in the state of Wisconsin,” his daughters wrote. “He truly had a passion for keeping people safe on the roads of Wisconsin. He was the type of person who would drop everything to help someone in need. He showed up for people on their worst days and his compassion was unmatched. His impact was felt all around the state and will continue to be for a long time.
The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the portion of the case involving the son. In Dane County, detectives and the Crime Scene Unit are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of the couple.
“Our family, like so many others, was deeply impacted by mental illness,” the Pabsts’ daughters wrote. “We are devastated to have lost our brother James to his debilitating illness. For those of you who knew him, please remember him for who he was before. For those of you who have walked a similar journey yourself or with someone in your life, please don’t give up; please seek help. Find someone to reach out to and grasp onto a thread of hope. Keep living because your life is precious.”
If in crisis, please call or text the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
This story was updated to add new information and a video.
Drake Bentley contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Daughters mourn deaths of state patrol bureau director, wife believed to be killed by adult son
Reporting by David Clarey and Jack Albright, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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