Body of missing Iowa trucker has been found months after disappearance, wife says
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCAU) – The wife of an Iowa truck driver, whose monthslong disappearance led to an extensive search effort, says her missing husband has been found dead.
Sarah Schultz told Nexstar's KCAU that her husband David Schultz's body was found not far from where searches were held. She added that she was able to identify the body by the boots.
“We’re still in shock,” Sarah said. “I know after being gone, you know, for two to three days that something bad happened because he never would have not called even if he didn’t have his phone. So I knew something was preventing him and I’m glad we know where he is now. There are still a lot of questions. Things don’t make sense. But we have him now.”
Sarah said she’s thankful to finally have closure and that she’s thankful for the support she’s received from the community.
David’s body is currently with the State Medical Examiner’s Office as they conduct an autopsy.
According to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Sac County Sheriff's Office was called shortly before 2 p.m. about a body that had been found in a field. It had been found near the intersection of 190th Street and Union Avenue, where Schultz's semi had been located in November 2023, the DCI said.
Hundreds of searchers covered thousands of Acres looking for Schultz to no avail. The volunteer disaster recovery organization United Cajun Navy organized several public search parties.
"We did not search these fields because we were told that these fields had already been searched," Jacob Rowley with the United Cajun Navy said. "So we ended up reaching outside of these areas. And that's where our search area was, so that's kind of where our search area came in. But it really does surprise me that it was that close."
Rowley added he hopes that finding David's body brings closure to his family. The body is being taken to the Iowa State Medical Examiner for an autopsy.
David Schultz, 53, went missing days before Thanksgiving in November 2023. Sarah Schultz said she last saw her husband as he left their Wall Lake home to go to work as a truck driver. He was set to deliver a load of hogs from Eagle Grove to Sac City, but he never arrived to his destination.
His truck was found the next morning on the road on northbound Highway 71 about five miles north of the Old Highway 20 intersection. The truck was still fully loaded with hogs. David’s wallet and phone were found in the semi, and his jacket was found in a nearby ditch.
Multiple organizations assisted in searching the surrounding lands.
After further investigation, officials provided a detailed timeline of the night and next day of David's disappearance. The timeline also detailed video footage of David stopping at a truck stop east of Fort Dodge on Highway 20. It was the last time he was seen, authorities said at the time.