Dane County farmer's tip leads to manhunt, arrest in Randolph for stabbing | Crime

EAST BRISTOL, Wis. (WKOW) – A suspect in a stabbing in Randolph is in custody after a manhunt ended with a tip from a Dane County farmer.

After an hour-long search, authorities from the Columbia and Dane County sheriff's offices as well as police from various communities allegedly found Oscar Rivera, 28, hiding in the attic of an organic dairy farm Tuesday evening.

Rivera worked at the R&G Miller & Sons farm along Route V in Dane County. Co-owner Ron Miller told 27 News his niece showed him a news article describing Rivera as a suspect in a Randolph stabbing.

Monday night's stabbing left a man with life-threatening injuries, according to the Columbia County Sheriff's Office. Authorities launched a manhunt for Rivera who showed up for work at the farm Tuesday.

Miller called authorities and stayed in contact with them, letting them know when a good time might be to apprehend Rivera.

As work on the farm drew to a close in the evening, deputies and police rushed down the gravel driveway leading to the farm. Miller said Rivera was in the dairy when authorities arrived, but quickly disappeared.

The authorities deployed in the search. They launched drones and used several dogs. Miller said the dogs led police to the barn, but the trail there had gone cold.

After about an hour of searching, authorities contacted Miller and asked if he had any ideas for hiding places that they may not have verified yet. Miller, who grew up playing hide-and-seek and cops-and-robbers games on the farm in his youth, suggested checking the cow barn's loft.

The space had two small access points at either end of the hangar. An officer climbed into the rafters and immediately stuck a foot through the ceiling.

Authorities then sent a dog that allegedly found Rivera. He was arrested and taken into custody.

Rivera has not yet been criminally charged.