WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsUPDATE: Suspected Sawyer County murderer named, connection to victim

UPDATE: Suspected Sawyer County murderer named, connection to victim

Town of Edgewater, Sawyer County (WQOW) - The investigation into an apparent murder suicide shakes up a western Wisconsin community.

David Palm's body was found in a home in Sawyer County on Saturday night. That home had burned to the ground. Palm was from Birchwood. He was 43. Officers say his wounds and evidence found near his body lead them to believe he was murdered.

The next morning, another man's body was found in a fire near a mobile home in Washburn County. Investigators believe that man is the man who murdered Palm. 

His body has not been identified but Birchwood police tell News 18 officers believe it is Arthur Garcia. Two years ago police investigated Garcia for an alleged threat. Reports indicate that Garcia and Palm's sister have a child together and there was a custody battle between the two. 

One of Garcia's co-workers told police he talked about shooting up the Trinity Lutheran Church in Birchwood because that's where David Palm's family goes. At the time police searched Garcia's home in Rice Lake and found weapons, ammunition, marijuana and swat-gear. Charges against him failed to stick because there were questions about the search warrant involved in the case. 

Residents in Birchwood say they're in shock over what happened.

"Everybody thinks of somebody else before they think of themselves here. It's a big shock, I think. And having said those things, I think that does make it even harder for us here because everybody does feel like we're all connected," says Betsey Acrey, owner of the Birchwood Cafe.

Many Birchwood residents say this is a tight-knit community that will definitely feel the loss.

News 18 also spoke with David's parents and they say they the loss of their son coupled with the loss of their home is a devastating blow.

Birchwood residents say they feel for Palm's family.

"He was a great guy. He was very nice and he would never hurt anyone. He was just a likeable guy and very loving. He wasn't the type of person that would hurt anyone," says former neighbor and classmate Scott Linville.

Back to Garcia. Before his body was found on Sunday there was so much concern about what had happened, church services at Trinity Lutheran Church in Birchwood were cancelled.