MYSTERY CONTINUES IN DISAPPEARANCE OF FITCHBURG MAN

Mystery continues to swirl around the disappearance of a 27-year-old
Fitchburg man who went missing more than three years ago. A federal
grand jury investigating the case wrapped up in December, but
investigators wouldn't say whether any indictments are expected.
Investigators haven't publicly named any suspects in the presumed
homicide of Amos Mortier, who was last seen on Nov. 8, 2004.

Sources close to the case say dozens of people were called to testify,
answering questions that often centered on the drug activities of two
of Mortier's close friends. Investigators believe Mortier was murdered
in a drug deal gone awry. Some speculate authorities are attempting to
build drug cases against those they believe have information about
Mortier's whereabouts.

Fitchburg Detective Shannon Sheil-Morgan wouldn't say whether this is
the strategy, but expressed frustration over "people lying and holding
back information that can assist" the investigation. Sheil-Morgan
estimates the case, which has passed through city, county, state and
now federal jurisdictions, has cost "hundreds of thousands of dollars."

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Madison would neither confirm nor deny
the existence of an investigation.

Authorities have questioned hundreds of people over the past three
years, with many accusing the case's three lead investigators --
Sheil-Morgan, retired Dane County Detective David Bongiovani (who is
no longer involved with the case) and federal Drug Enforcement
Administration agent Jerry Becka -- of casting an overly wide net for
potential suspects.

During a rare state John Doe probe into Mortier's disappearance in
2005, investigators eyed Madison resident Jacob Stadfeld as a
potential suspect. Authorities have alleged that Stadfeld owed $90,000
to Mortier.

Stadfeld's attorney, Ernesto Chavez, says his client is
innocent.

"From the beginning, at least two parties have fingered him as being
guilty. For some reason the police believed those parties," says
Chavez. "These parties are known to have told false information to
police. These individuals have told a long string of lies and we're
interested to know what those lies were."

Chavez, who says Stadfeld never received a grand jury subpoena, could
only speculate on the grand jury's focus. "It's very strange for the
federal government to investigate a local murder case," he says. "My
guess would be to flush out suspects. We have always expected some
kind of charge would come, but that hasn't happened yet."

But Stadfeld is just one of several people accused over the last three
years by investigators of playing a role in Mortier's disappearance.
According to sources close to the case, grand jury questioning has
centered on two of Mortier's friends, including original suspect Jacob
Falkner, who says he had no hand in the disappearance. Falkner,
authorities alleged, killed Mortier following a lovers' spat.

"They said we had a homosexual relationship," says Falkner, who,
according to four witnesses, was part of the grand jury's focus, but
wasn't himself called to testify. "Where do they get this crap? They
couldn't believe that two heterosexual males would go camping or cook
meals together."

In the fallout from Mortier's disappearance, Falkner, 27, was
convicted in early 2005 of growing marijuana and given probation.
Twenty months later, he was charged for the same crime in federal
court under an anti-terrorism law that allows the government to
sidestep double jeopardy protections. He was convicted again and
sentenced to one year in federal prison.

Shortly after his release last summer, Falkner says DEA agent Becka
came to his house to again question him about the disappearance. "I've
given them same information like five different times," says Falkner,
who was twice called to testify in the state's earlier John Doe probe.
"My story has never changed. I want to know what happened to Amos more
than they do."

Another Madison man, who asked not to be identified, says he was
accused by Sheil-Morgan of stabbing Mortier on a hog farm in Poynette.
The man, who was on the periphery of Mortier's broad network of
friends, has been questioned four times by investigators.

"I don't think they have any clue what happened to him," he says. "I
do think they're trying real hard at this point to justify all the
money they've spent investigating people. That's why they're so bent
on the drug stuff. It's all they've got."

Sheil-Morgan wouldn't comment on whether they believe Mortier was
stabbed in Poynette or if the investigation's focus has shifted toward
building drug cases. "We're doing everything we can to find Amos," she
says.

New start

Mortier was a popular Madison resident with a broad network of
friends. Well-liked, but intensely private, Mortier was taking steps
to put drugs behind him, according to family and friends. Though it's
widely known he trafficked in marijuana, many dispute that he was the
high-level dealer authorities claim he was.

He had begun taking classes at Madison Area Technical College and was
preparing to move to North Carolina, where friends say he intended to
pursue a career in organic farming. He had previously volunteered in
Milwaukee, helping school children build rooftop gardens, in addition
to growing vegetables organically on land he owned near Reedsburg.

Mortier's mother, Margie Milutinovich, also laments the course she's
seen the investigation take.

"They're so caught up in finding out who was selling what drugs to
whom that they aren't even looking for my son anymore," says
Milutinovich. "They've said so many things that I don't even know what
to believe. They don't return my calls."

Confusing matters further is that there have been as many theories
about Mortier's fate as there have been suspects. Though some believe
Mortier was murdered in a drug deal gone badly, some believe he may
have been struck by a car after chasing his dog near his Lacy Road
home. Perhaps, says one, the driver, fearing the consequences,
disposed of Mortier's body.

Mortier's dog was found by a neighbor several days after he
disappeared.

Falkner, on the other hand, believes Mortier learned that his drug
activities were under investigation and went underground to duck
prosecution. "It wouldn't be the first time he lived under the radar
for a long time," he says. "He's a very resourceful guy. It wouldn't
surprise me one bit."

Sheil-Morgan wouldn't comment on what investigators believe happened,
but says, "I would love for Amos to walk through the door. I've lived
and breathed this case for three years."

Milutinovich, until recently, believed her son was suffering from a
rare form of amnesia. Now, she doesn't know what to believe, though
she is hopeful that he's still alive.

"I go back and forth several times a day," she says, adding that she
doesn't believe authorities have any solid suspects. "If they did,
they'd have arrested somebody by now. They say the investigation is
open, but I don't think they're even looking for Amos anymore."