SAC COUNTY, Iowa — The family of David Schultz, whose body was located in a Sac County field Wednesday afternoon, is planning to have a second autopsy conducted by an independent forensic pathologist.
Jake Rowley of the United Cajun Navy, a volunteer group that aided in the search for Schultz, told Local 5 that David's wife Sarah thinks a second autopsy "would never be a bad idea."
"Getting that second opinion on, you know, what David's cause of death was, as well as if there was any foul play involved, we just think is, you know, going to be a good idea." Rowley said.
According to Rowley, the Schultz family is looking into sending David's body to Kansas City for a private secondary autopsy once the initial autopsy is concluded.
"We have had conversations with multiple forensic pathologists today," he said, adding that there is no one in Iowa who offers private autopsy services.
In a press release, the Iowa Department of Public Safety said someone discovered a body in a field and called authorities. The field is located near an intersection of rural Sac County, where Schultz's truck was found back in November.
"The body has been positively identified through dental records as that of 53-year-old David Schultz of Wall Lake, Iowa," the Iowa DPS said Thursday evening.
Authorities say no foul play is suspected in Schultz's death.
In a Facebook post early Thursday morning, Sarah said her husband had been found, writing in part, "Even though it is not the ending we wanted, I thank god we now know where David is because the 155 [days] of not knowing was pure hell. We still have a lot of unanswered questions but at least one big one was answered and we know he is with Jesus."
During a press conference Thursday morning, Sarah recounted her initial thoughts after hearing the news.
"I had a feeling he would be found for some reason during when the farmers were getting their fields ready," she said. "But I just didn't know when, and it was yesterday."
Sarah said she was brought home by a coworker with a sheriff waiting at the front door.
"He grabbed my hand and said 'I know you've been through a lot,'" she recalled.
Sarah said she had given a pair of boots to law enforcement to help with the search, and it was an identical pair that the body was found wearing.
"They were the same brand and make," she said.
David Schultz was reported missing on Nov. 21, 2023 after he failed to complete a delivery of hogs from Eagle Grove to Sac City.