Town of Middleton Homicides

July 10, 2025
Elise Schaffer, PIO, (608) 284-6142
Sheriff's Office

On Tuesday, July 8th, at 2:21 pm, Dane County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call at 8580 Stonebrook Circle in the town of Middleton. A family member called 911 after going to check on David and Teresa (Teri) Pabst, who had failed to arrive at their expected destinations that morning. Upon entering the home, the family member found both David and Teri deceased. 
Deputies had information that their son, James Pabst, age 25, had left the home just before they arrived. He was driving a white Honda Accord and was believed to be armed. 
At 4:19 pm, the Wisconsin State Patrol located his vehicle going west on U.S. Highway 14 in Vernon County. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop near Patterson Road, and James pulled over without issue. However, as deputies and State Troopers attempted to speak with him, he closed his window, and refused to exit the car. After approximately one hour without a response to their verbal commands, law enforcement tactically approached the car and determined James had died by suicide. The Vernon County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the events in Vernon County.
Based on evidence at both scenes and interviews conducted with family members and friends, Dane County Sheriff’s investigators believe James fatally shot his parents, David and Teri, sometime after 9:30 pm on Monday, July 7th in the home that they all shared. The handgun used was lawfully purchased by James.
“On behalf of everyone at the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, our sincerest condolences go out to the Pabst family, their friends, and neighbors,” said Sheriff Kalvin Barrett. “While this is no longer a criminal investigation, we will do all we can to provide the surviving family members the answers and closure they deserve.”
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office wants to thank the many agencies who responded to assist with this call. They include, but are not limited to, WI State Patrol, Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, the Viroqua Police Department, the Dane County Medical Examiner’s Office, the Vernon County Coroner’s Office, and University of Wisconsin Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine.