What started as a missing-person mystery in Beaver Dam has become a homicide case, with authorities accusing a local husband of killing his wife after more than a year of unanswered questions. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office arrested 43-year-old Aaron Nelson on May 15, and prosecutors have charged him with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse. His wife, Alexis Nelson, vanished in spring 2025 and had not been heard from since, leaving her family and the community in limbo.
What we know about the disappearance
According to the Wisconsin clearinghouse for missing persons, Alexis Lindsey Nelson has been listed as missing since May 1, 2025, and was last known to be in Beaver Dam. The Wisconsin DOJ Clearinghouse notes that tips can be directed to the Beaver Dam Police Department tipline at 920-356-2552 or sent via email.
Arrest and charges
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office took Aaron Nelson into custody on Friday, May 15, and the Dodge County District Attorney has charged him with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee. Nelson is being held at the Dodge County Jail as he awaits his first court dates.
Sheriff: 'Extensive investigation'
Dodge County Sheriff Dale Schmidt said the arrest followed "an extensive investigation" and added that officials are withholding further details for now to protect the integrity of the case, as reported by WMTV. Investigators also said Nelson uses the alias James Nelson and asked anyone who may have information about him or Alexis to contact law enforcement.
Earlier searches and community alerts
For months, police and sheriff's deputies leaned on the public for help in finding Alexis. Authorities widened the search earlier this year, and a statewide missing-person alert went out last November, according to local coverage. Daily Dodge reports that the Beaver Dam Police Department and the Dodge County Sheriff's Office worked the case jointly for more than a year before the recent arrest.
How to help
Anyone who has information about Alexis Nelson's whereabouts or who had contact with her or Aaron/James Nelson is urged to call the Beaver Dam Police Department at 920-356-2552 or submit a tip through the Dodge County channels listed by the Wisconsin DOJ Clearinghouse. During the active search, investigators also shared a county tipline and email address for leads, according to FOX6 News Milwaukee.
What the charges mean
Under Wisconsin law, first-degree intentional homicide (Wis. Stat. § 940.01) is a Class A felony and is the state's most serious homicide charge, with the potential for a life sentence. The Wisconsin State Law Library notes that the offense is reserved for killings that prosecutors say were carried out with intent. Separately, mutilating or hiding a corpse (Wis. Stat. § 940.11) is charged on its own and can bring additional felony penalties, as illustrated in a Wisconsin Court of Appeals opinion that discusses how the statute is applied.
Nelson is scheduled for an initial court appearance Monday afternoon, and prosecutors told local media they intend to push the case forward through the Dodge County court system. He remains in custody at the county jail while the investigation continues, WMTV reported.
