4th person charged in McMillan Marsh homicide

WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) – A fourth person is facing homicide charges in the case of a body that was dumped in McMillian Marsh in Spencer.

Steven Crandall, 24, was interviewed in the Wood County Jail earlier this year while being held on unrelated charges. He reportedly told investigators that he offered the other suspects $5,000 to carry out the killing of Christian Schauer. He said it was retaliation after Schauer stole perception drugs that were going to be sold on the street.

Schauer’s body was found in December, 2020.

Crandall says after the killing he met the three suspects at a motel in Marshfield. They allegedly gave him a photograph of the body, and then he paid them for carrying out the killing.

Jared Carl has already been convicted of the killing. He’ll be sentenced on April 11. Two others, Shawn Carl and Audrey Benson, are facing charges in connection with the case and are awaiting trial.

Crandall will be charged with first degree homicide. A date for his arraignment has not been set.