Crime & Safety
Fond du Lac County, WI Missing Boy Case: New Evidence Being Tested After 43 Years
Campbellsport, WI – Investigators are conducting new excavations in southeastern Fond du Lac County as they pursue fresh leads in the disappearance of a 5 year old boy who vanished more than 43 years
By Marcus Hale · 2026-11-04T23:53:17.312Z
Campbellsport, WI – Investigators are conducting new excavations in southeastern Fond du Lac County as they pursue fresh leads in the disappearance of a 5 year old boy who vanished more than 43 years ago, marking a significant development in one of Wisconsin's longstanding missing child investigations.
According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff 's Office, detectives have identified additional locations of interest that may contain evidence connected to the disappearance of Robert "Bobby Jo" Fritz on May 14, 1983.
The Sheriff's Office announced Wednesday, Nov. 4, that excavation work is underway at these locations as investigators continue examining potential evidence.
Earlier in 2026, detectives recovered items of interest during an excavation at the Campbellsport residence where Bobby Jo lived when he disappeared.
Those items were submitted to a private laboratory for testing, with results still pending.
Authorities have not disclosed what was recovered or whether the items are directly connected to the disappearance.
Bobby Jo was last seen playing outside with his siblings between 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on May 14, 1983.
He was wearing a red, blue and gray shirt, blue pants and boots.
Investigators documented a distinctive red birthmark measuring approximately 2 by 3 inches on his outer left thigh, above the knee.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice continues listing his disappearance as a nonfamily abduction case.
Now 43 years later, investigators are revisiting locations that could provide answers about what happened to the missing child.
Sheriff Ryan Waldschmidt emphasized that the investigation remains active and that additional information will only be released when doing so will not compromise the case.
Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact Detective Tyler Tikkanen at 920 929 3384.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted through the Fond du Lac County Tip Line at 920 906 4777.
No arrests or definitive findings were announced in Wednesday's update.