July 10, 2025
VIROQUA, Wis. – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson and Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh, in coordination with Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett have confirmed the identity of a man who took his own life during a standoff with police, who pulled his vehicle on State Highway 14, just south of Viroqua on Tuesday afternoon. That man has now been identified as James David Pabst, 25, of Middleton, Wis. who authorities say died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Vernon County and Dane County authorities have also confirmed they believe James Pabst also took the lives of his parents, David and Teresa Pabst, both 64, at the their Middleton home prior to his apprehension and standoff in Vernon County. David Pabst was the Wisconsin State Patrol bureau director and Teri Pabst was staff member at the Middleton-Cross Plains School District.
The Wisconsin State Patrol confirmed David Pabst was the victim in the incident and issued a statement about his passing, and his service to the State Patrol.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation and Wisconsin State Patrol are heartbroken over the loss of one of our longtime colleagues, David Pabst and his wife Teri.
David was a dedicated member of the Wisconsin State Patrol, devoting more than 38 years to public service and transportation safety. He spent 25 years as a law enforcement officer, rising through the ranks from trooper and inspector in the State Patrol Northwest Region to sergeant, lieutenant and captain at State Patrol headquarters in Madison. In 2013, he was appointed director of the Bureau of Transportation Safety and Technical Services, where he used his knowledge and dedication to public safety to lead State Patrol’s safety programs and public outreach efforts.
David always served with integrity and compassion, driven by a deep commitment to protect others. He always had a smile and a kind word to share as he dedicated a nearly 40-year career to keeping Wisconsinites safe. His contributions spanned the agency and communities across the state. David and Teri will be greatly missed.
Another message from the Middleton-Cross Plains School District remembered Teri Pabst as “a valued staff member at Kromrey Middle School from 2017 to 2022,” special education teacher, paraeducator and case manager, WMTV reported.
Sheriff Roy Torgerson released more details about the incident that occurred with James Pabst in Vernon County and how their interaction with him unfolded on Tuesday afternoon.
A Sheriff’s report states that late Tuesday afternoon, July 8, at approximately 4:00 p.m., the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center received a report that the suspect in a double homicide that occurred in Dane County was traveling west on State Highway 14, approaching Vernon County. A Wisconsin State Patrol trooper was following the vehicle and requested assistance.
Multiple responding officers from the Sheriff’s Office and the Viroqua Police Department and multiple law enforcement communications professionals worked efficiently with the state patrol in a highly coordinated response. Once officers were positioned south of Viroqua to prevent entry into the populated area, a traffic stop was initiated, and the operator immediately complied by pulling onto the westbound shoulder near Offerdahl Road.
Sheriff Torgerson said his team performed how they are trained in high-risk vehicle contacts, using verbal commands for the operator, or any occupants to obey, but there was no response. After no response to further verbal commands and observation with no movement inside the vehicle, a tactical approach was made. At 5:21 p.m. contact was made confirming the operator was the lone occupant and there were no signs of life. It was apparent that the operator, identified as James David Pabst, 25, of Middleton, Wis. sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Paramedics with Tri-State Ambulance/Gundersen Ambulance responded, but Pabst was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene by Vernon County Coroner Betty Nigh, at 6:15 p.m.
Also responding to the scene was the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.
The law enforcement agencies that responded to this incident issued a statement regarding the loss of life.
The senseless loss of a law enforcement colleague is always heartrending. It is even more so when the victim is someone known and loved by all who had the great good fortune to work with them. Vernon County joins the Wisconsin State Patrol and the entire law enforcement community in mourning the loss of Director Pabst and his wife. The world is a sadder place today as we reflect on the countless contributions that Director Pabst made to the safety and wellbeing of law-abiding citizens everywhere.
In addition to the Wisconsin State Patrol and Viroqua Police Department, the Vernon County Highway Department and Vernon County Emergency Management Management also assisted with this incident.
The incident remains under investigation by the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office, Vernon County Coroner’s Office, and the Dane County Sheriff’s Office.
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