No state is immune to a certain amount of misfortune. Some of the tragedies are out of our hands and the product of nature, and some are man-made. While we have plenty to love about Wisconsin, there are some events that are so horrible they almost defy description. Here are the 9 most horrifying disasters that ever happened in Wisconsin.
(Editor’s note: an earlier version of this article omitted a link to a previous article which listed several other Wisconsin tragedies. The link is now at the bottom of this page. Our apologies for any confusion.)
- Ed Gein
Flickr/Paul Huber In the 1950’s, Gein admitted to two murders, but was found unfit to stand trial. He also robbed graves and fashioned “trophies” out of parts from the bodies, most notably the skin.
- Cedar Grove I-43 Fog Crash
Flickr/bri In 2002, drivers described hitting a wall of fog along I-43 in Sheboygan county. Visibility was zero and more than 50 cars were involved in a pile-up crash. There were 10 casualties in this biggest auto accident in state history.
- Azana Spa Shooting
Flickr/smalljude In 2012, a domestic issue gone out of control led to four deaths, including the shooter, when he entered the Brookfield spa and opened fire. Four additional people were injured, but survived.
- Colfax Tornadoes
Flickr/Aaron Carlson There were at least 10 confirmed tornadoes during this outbreak in 1958. The tornadoes touched down in four different states as part of the outbreak, but the worst damage was done in Wisconsin. All 28 casualties happened here.
- New Richmond Tornado
Wikipedia This tornado in 1889 killed 117 people, injured 125 more and in today’s dollars, caused more than $8 million in damages .
- Northwoods Hunter Slayings
Flickr/SBTuska In 2004, a man from Minnesota on a hunting trip in Northern Wisconsin shot and killed six men and wounded two others. The details of the incident have never been clarified, but the confrontation started over a trespassing dispute.
- Jeffrey Dahmer
Flickr/BryanAlexander Wisconsin’s most infamous resident, Dahmer killed 17 people from 1978-1991 and kept pieces of the remains in refrigerators and freezers.
- Shullsburg Mine Cave-In
Flickr/Al The worst mine disaster in state history claimed eight men - two trapped miners and six men who perished trying to save them in 1943.
- Oakfield Tornado
Wikimedia/StormTalk This tornado, combined with heavy storms, decimated Oakfield in 1996. Nearly 1/6th of the homes in town were destroyed, with another 56 homes and businesses suffering heavy damage. There were 11 other tornadoes in Wisconsin due to this storm, including one causing a casualty in Marytown.
For more of Wisconsin’s worst tragedies, see our previous article.
Flickr/Paul Huber
In the 1950’s, Gein admitted to two murders, but was found unfit to stand trial. He also robbed graves and fashioned “trophies” out of parts from the bodies, most notably the skin.
Flickr/bri
In 2002, drivers described hitting a wall of fog along I-43 in Sheboygan county. Visibility was zero and more than 50 cars were involved in a pile-up crash. There were 10 casualties in this biggest auto accident in state history.
Flickr/smalljude
In 2012, a domestic issue gone out of control led to four deaths, including the shooter, when he entered the Brookfield spa and opened fire. Four additional people were injured, but survived.
Flickr/Aaron Carlson
There were at least 10 confirmed tornadoes during this outbreak in 1958. The tornadoes touched down in four different states as part of the outbreak, but the worst damage was done in Wisconsin. All 28 casualties happened here.
Wikipedia
This tornado in 1889 killed 117 people, injured 125 more and in today’s dollars, caused more than $8 million in damages .
Flickr/SBTuska
In 2004, a man from Minnesota on a hunting trip in Northern Wisconsin shot and killed six men and wounded two others. The details of the incident have never been clarified, but the confrontation started over a trespassing dispute.
Flickr/BryanAlexander
Wisconsin’s most infamous resident, Dahmer killed 17 people from 1978-1991 and kept pieces of the remains in refrigerators and freezers.
Flickr/Al
The worst mine disaster in state history claimed eight men - two trapped miners and six men who perished trying to save them in 1943.
Wikimedia/StormTalk
This tornado, combined with heavy storms, decimated Oakfield in 1996. Nearly 1/6th of the homes in town were destroyed, with another 56 homes and businesses suffering heavy damage. There were 11 other tornadoes in Wisconsin due to this storm, including one causing a casualty in Marytown.
Although bad things happen everywhere from time to time, for the most part we live in a very peaceful place. What Wisconsin tragedies did we miss? Leave us a comment below.
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