Topline: David and Jan Metzig were found dead in their home in March 2023; their son later admitted guilt.
Published: November 3, 2025 12:00 pm ET
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Erik Metzig mugshot (via Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office)
APPLETON, WI — A Wisconsin man was sentenced to two life sentences without parole in October for the 2023 murders of his parents.
Erik Metzig, now 26, pleaded no contest in August to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of his parents, David Metzig, 72, and Jan Metzig, 71, according to court records and reporting by People.
The couple was found dead in the bathroom of their home on March 18, 2023, following a 911 call from the residence.
According to a criminal complaint cited by FOX 11, both had been shot in the head and discovered with plastic bags over their heads. Investigators found blood and shell casings at the scene but noted no signs of forced entry.
David and Jan Metzig owned and operated Union Star Cheese Factory, a small business in Fremont that had been in the family for generations. The factory closed temporarily following their deaths.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators found a journal in Erik Metzig’s dorm room at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The journal contained entries describing plans to kill his parents and flee the country. One entry stated that he intended to “eliminate” his parents and escape to a non-extradition country.
Police said Erik Metzig was located the day after the killings at a hotel in Middleton, about 100 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested without incident.
The complaint stated that Erik Metzig had disabled the home’s security cameras and removed the family’s phones before the killings. He allegedly used a silencer on the firearm and attempted to clean up the scene before fleeing.
Prosecutors said the killings were premeditated and carried out with the intent to avoid detection. Key evidence in the case were the journal entries, surveillance footage, and cell phone data.
Erik Metzig was charged in March 2023 and initially pleaded not guilty. He later changed his plea to no contest in August 2024, avoiding a trial. The court accepted the plea and proceeded to sentencing.
At the sentencing hearing in October 2025, the judge imposed two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, according to People. The court cited the calculated nature of the crime and the betrayal of familial trust as aggravating factors.
The Union Star Cheese Factory has since resumed operations under new management. A memorial for David and Jan Metzig was held in April 2023, attended by community members and longtime customers. The couple were married 49 years and left behind five children.
The case drew widespread attention in Wisconsin due to the disturbing nature of the crime and the prominence of the Metzig family in the business community.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Wisconsin Cheese Factory Owners Found Slain; Son Gets Two Life Sentences
David and Jan Metzig were found dead in their home in March 2023; their son later admitted guilt.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 3, 2025 12:00 pm ET
Erik Metzig mugshot (via Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office)
APPLETON, WI — A Wisconsin man was sentenced to two life sentences without parole in October for the 2023 murders of his parents.
Erik Metzig, now 26, pleaded no contest in August to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of his parents, David Metzig, 72, and Jan Metzig, 71, according to court records and reporting by People.
The couple was found dead in the bathroom of their home on March 18, 2023, following a 911 call from the residence.
According to a criminal complaint cited by FOX 11, both had been shot in the head and discovered with plastic bags over their heads. Investigators found blood and shell casings at the scene but noted no signs of forced entry.
David and Jan Metzig owned and operated Union Star Cheese Factory, a small business in Fremont that had been in the family for generations. The factory closed temporarily following their deaths.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators found a journal in Erik Metzig’s dorm room at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The journal contained entries describing plans to kill his parents and flee the country. One entry stated that he intended to “eliminate” his parents and escape to a non-extradition country.
Police said Erik Metzig was located the day after the killings at a hotel in Middleton, about 100 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested without incident.
The complaint stated that Erik Metzig had disabled the home’s security cameras and removed the family’s phones before the killings. He allegedly used a silencer on the firearm and attempted to clean up the scene before fleeing.
Prosecutors said the killings were premeditated and carried out with the intent to avoid detection. Key evidence in the case were the journal entries, surveillance footage, and cell phone data.
Erik Metzig was charged in March 2023 and initially pleaded not guilty. He later changed his plea to no contest in August 2024, avoiding a trial. The court accepted the plea and proceeded to sentencing.
At the sentencing hearing in October 2025, the judge imposed two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, according to People. The court cited the calculated nature of the crime and the betrayal of familial trust as aggravating factors.
The Union Star Cheese Factory has since resumed operations under new management. A memorial for David and Jan Metzig was held in April 2023, attended by community members and longtime customers. The couple were married 49 years and left behind five children.
The case drew widespread attention in Wisconsin due to the disturbing nature of the crime and the prominence of the Metzig family in the business community.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Wisconsin Cheese Factory Owners Found Slain; Son Gets Two Life Sentences
David and Jan Metzig were found dead in their home in March 2023; their son later admitted guilt.
By Kate Byrd
Published: November 3, 2025 12:00 pm ET
Erik Metzig mugshot (via Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office)
APPLETON, WI — A Wisconsin man was sentenced to two life sentences without parole in October for the 2023 murders of his parents.
Erik Metzig, now 26, pleaded no contest in August to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of his parents, David Metzig, 72, and Jan Metzig, 71, according to court records and reporting by People.
The couple was found dead in the bathroom of their home on March 18, 2023, following a 911 call from the residence.
According to a criminal complaint cited by FOX 11, both had been shot in the head and discovered with plastic bags over their heads. Investigators found blood and shell casings at the scene but noted no signs of forced entry.
David and Jan Metzig owned and operated Union Star Cheese Factory, a small business in Fremont that had been in the family for generations. The factory closed temporarily following their deaths.
According to the criminal complaint, investigators found a journal in Erik Metzig’s dorm room at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The journal contained entries describing plans to kill his parents and flee the country. One entry stated that he intended to “eliminate” his parents and escape to a non-extradition country.
Police said Erik Metzig was located the day after the killings at a hotel in Middleton, about 100 miles from the crime scene. He was arrested without incident.
The complaint stated that Erik Metzig had disabled the home’s security cameras and removed the family’s phones before the killings. He allegedly used a silencer on the firearm and attempted to clean up the scene before fleeing.
Prosecutors said the killings were premeditated and carried out with the intent to avoid detection. Key evidence in the case were the journal entries, surveillance footage, and cell phone data.
Erik Metzig was charged in March 2023 and initially pleaded not guilty. He later changed his plea to no contest in August 2024, avoiding a trial. The court accepted the plea and proceeded to sentencing.
At the sentencing hearing in October 2025, the judge imposed two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, according to People. The court cited the calculated nature of the crime and the betrayal of familial trust as aggravating factors.
The Union Star Cheese Factory has since resumed operations under new management. A memorial for David and Jan Metzig was held in April 2023, attended by community members and longtime customers. The couple were married 49 years and left behind five children.
The case drew widespread attention in Wisconsin due to the disturbing nature of the crime and the prominence of the Metzig family in the business community.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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