PHELPS, Wis. (WSAU-WAOW) — The case of a 47-year-old woman found dead on a snowmobile trail in Phelps is being considered a murder by the Vilas County Sheriff’s Department.
Luann Beckman had moved to Phelps in the last few months to help take care of her mother. Now, Vilas County officials have told WAOW Newsline 9 that she was murdered Sunday night on a snowmobile trail alongside an apartment building while riding her bike.
Beckman’s body was found without a shirt by people on a walk Tuesday morning. Her bike was found near her body and beer bottles were found around the scene. Beckman was wearing a backpack and while the papers inside were scattered, investigators are not considering robbery as a motive for the murder.
The people that Beckman lived with, including her mother, did not report her missing. Officials would not comment on the nature of her death due to the ongoing investigation, but they had enough evidence to believe the death was not accidental. There are no suspects at this time, but the sheriff’s department is following a number of leads.
