EPISODE · Jun 5, 2026 · 43 MIN
100. William (Bill) Schnackel
from Speculating Wildly About Crime (SWAC POD) · host SWAC Pack
This week on Speculating Wildly About Crime, Jamie and Kristy discuss the 1980 disappearance of 44-year-old Bill Schnackel from Phillips, Wisconsin. Bill, described as kind and hardworking, lived in an old school bus and earned money hauling trash and scrapping metal, sometimes with his roommate Michael Winters. Bill was reported missing on May 20, 1980—over a month after Michael claimed he last saw him on April 16—and Michael said Bill went to Chicago to collect an inheritance, though Bill’s aunt said there was no money and she was in California. Michael was seen driving Bill’s prized truck, gave conflicting explanations about being in the woods, and later moved back to Palm Springs. Investigators searched the property and nearby areas without finding Bill, arrested Michael in 1983 for murder, but he was found not guilty and records of the trial are missing. The hosts urge anyone with information to contact the Price County Sheriff’s Office at 715-339-3011.Sources:The Tomahawk Leader NewspaperIronwood Daily Globe NewspaperThe Evening Telegram (Superior, WI) NewspaperForgotten Wisconsin Cold Cases: William Schnackel - The Bus in the Woods https://share.google/lbwHOpffnCnOujN2thttps://www.wsaw.com/video/2024/07/05/price-county-man-william-schnackel-lived-bus-woods-went-missing-44-years-ago/Shoutouts:www.wisconsinshistory.comSupport the showJoin our Discussion Group- (4) Speculating Wildly About Crime (SWAC POD) Discussion Group | FacebookFollow us on Facebook- (4) Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093283626257)Follow us on Instagram: Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/swacpod/)Follow us on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@swac.pod?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pcLink to You Tube: (4) SWACpod - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@SWACPOD)Music licensed from Premium BeatGroovy by INPLUSMUSIC
What this episode covers
This week on Speculating Wildly About Crime, Jamie and Kristy discuss the 1980 disappearance of 44-year-old Bill Schnackel from Phillips, Wisconsin. Bill, described as kind and hardworking, lived in an old school bus and earned money hauling trash and scrapping metal, sometimes with his roommate Michael Winters. Bill was reported missing on May 20, 1980—over a month after Michael claimed he last saw him on April 16—and Michael said Bill went to Chicago to collect an inheritance, though Bill’s...
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100. William (Bill) Schnackel
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