The Decades

Summary of The Decades

by Audiochuck

38m•October 13, 2026
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Overview of The Decades

This episode of Park Predators tells the story of the 1976 double homicide of David Schultes and his fiancée Ellen Matthews at McClintock Park in Marinette County, Wisconsin. What began as a seemingly random campground killing remained unsolved for more than four decades, until DNA genealogy and forensic phenotyping finally identified the suspect as Raymond (Lawrence) Van Evenhoven. The episode follows the original investigation, the long forensic cold case effort, and the eventual conviction.

The Crime at McClintock Park

What happened

  • On July 9, 1976, a park worker found David Schultes shot dead near the women’s restroom building and campground area.
  • Investigators soon learned David’s fiancée, Ellen Matthews, was missing.
  • Her body was found the next day in a field a short distance away.

Scene details

  • David appeared to have been shot in the neck while walking past the restroom buildings.
  • Ellen was found partially undressed, with signs suggesting possible sexual assault.
  • Their campsite and car were nearby, with personal items left behind, making robbery seem unlikely.
  • Evidence pointed toward a brazen daytime attack by someone who may have been watching them.

The Initial Investigation

Early theory

Authorities quickly focused on the idea that:

  • David may have been shot first.
  • Ellen may have seen the attack, fled, or been forced away.
  • The killer likely sexually assaulted and murdered Ellen afterward.

Witness sightings

  • Two men later reported hearing a gunshot around the time of the murders.
  • They also saw a white man carrying a rifle near the park.
  • A composite sketch was created, along with a vehicle description, but the leads went nowhere.

Forensic evidence

  • Investigators recovered:
    • bullet fragments
    • hairs and biological evidence
    • semen from Ellen’s clothing
    • latent fingerprints and camping items
  • Early blood-type analysis was later found to be flawed, causing investigators to revisit many suspects.

The Cold Case Breakthrough

DNA advances

  • In 1996 and again around 2000, Ellen’s clothing was tested for DNA.
  • A male DNA profile was eventually developed from semen found on her shorts.
  • The profile did not match any offender in national databases.

Forensic phenotyping and genealogy

  • In 2018, investigators worked with Parabon Nanolabs to build a DNA-based image of the suspect.
  • The updated profile suggested he was fair-skinned, freckled, with reddish-brown or black hair and blue-green eyes.
  • Genealogical research through public DNA databases narrowed the field to the Van Evenhoven family.

Identifying the Suspect

Family investigation

Investigators ruled out several family members through covert DNA collection:

  • one man via an inhaler swab
  • another via a coffee cup

The match

  • In March 2019, Raymond Van Evenhoven was obtained for DNA comparison through an envelope and questionnaire ruse.
  • His DNA matched the crime-scene profile from Ellen’s shorts.
  • A later cheek swab confirmed the result.

Additional context about Van Evenhoven

The episode notes that he had a troubling earlier history:

  • In 1957, he was arrested after attempting to assault two underage girls.
  • He later lived a quiet life in Wisconsin, worked as a handyman, and was described by some as a family man, though others said he had a violent temper when drinking.

Trial and Resolution

Charges and court process

  • Van Evenhoven was charged with:
    • two counts of first-degree murder
    • one count of first-degree sexual assault
  • The sexual assault charge was later dropped because the statute of limitations had expired.

Trial outcome

  • At trial in 2021, the prosecution relied heavily on DNA evidence.
  • The defense challenged the evidence and floated alternate suspects, but the court rejected those arguments.
  • The jury found Van Evenhoven guilty of both murders.
  • He was sentenced to life in prison.

Final outcome

  • Van Evenhoven died in prison less than a year later, at age 85.

Key Takeaways

Why this case stood out

  • It was a random, violent, daytime park attack that could have happened to almost anyone.
  • The case shows how old evidence can become powerful again when paired with modern forensic science.
  • It also highlights how DNA genealogy can solve cases that traditional investigative methods could not.

Lingering questions

  • The biggest unresolved issue is why Van Evenhoven committed the murders.
  • The episode also raises the possibility that he may have had other victims over the decades.
  • The host notes another unsolved Marinette County killing from 1972, hinting at broader concerns but without a confirmed link.

Closing Reflection

The episode ends on the reminder that Ellen Matthews and David Schultes were innocent people whose lives were cut short in a place meant for recreation and safety. Their case is presented as both a tragedy and a testament to how persistence, science, and genealogy can finally deliver justice—even after 40-plus years.