SAC CITY, Iowa — Officials have determined a cause of death for David Schultz, the once missing Wall Lake man whose body was found in April.
Sac County Sheriff Ken McClure confirmed the state medical examiner's findings that Schultz died from hypothermia related to acute meth intoxication. Schultz's death certificate states he had the drug in his system and died after being exposed to the cold temperatures.
The cause of death is consistent with earlier reports saying no foul play was suspected in Schultz's death.
Schultz was initially reported missing on Nov. 21, 2023 after he failed to complete a delivery of hogs from Eagle Grove to Sac City. He abandoned his truck, trailer, and hogs left inside on a Sac County highway.
His disappearance sparked massive search efforts in Sac County and neighboring areas.
Investigation by the Sac County Sheriff's Department revealed that Schultz had been trucking for nearly 30 hours straight with hardly any rest, motivated to support his family and business.
It is believed by authorities that the combination of severe sleep deprivation and methamphetamine led to a medical emergency which led Schultz to abandon his truck and later succumb to the elements. It's important to note that this was not determined to be an overdose.
Community and Family Resources, an organization that supports people with substance use disorder, says that being intoxicated by meth can lead people to put themselves at risk without realizing it due to its impact on judgment. Plus, people’s understanding of their own body temperature goes down, meaning that it’s possible that Schultz felt warmer than he actually was, therefore not registering that he was in danger.
Local 5 would like to make it clear that it does not know whether or not Schultz had a history of drug-use.
The search for Schultz primarily investigated areas of shrubbery and vegetation in fields like fence lines and field borders. Officials said the field that his body was found in gave unique challenges that prevented detection with corn stalks camouflaging his body. In fact, the cornstalks in the field hid Schultz so well the farmhand who found his body couldn't see it until he was just 13 meters away while high up on a tractor.
On April 24, the Iowa Department of Public Safety reported that the farmhand had discovered Schultz's body in a field while tilling and called authorities. The field is located near an intersection of rural Sac County, where Schultz's truck was found back in November.
The Sac County Attorney's Office said that the state of Schultz's body showed he had been dead for months before he was found.
Local 5 reached out to Jake Rowley with the Cajun Navy who has been speaking on behalf of the Schultz family.
Local 5 knows the family was previously considering getting a second, independent autopsy. At this time, they haven't commented if that is still their intentions.
Local 5 is working to confirm more details related to Schultz's death and will update this story as more information becomes available.
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