Police investigating suspicious death after body found behind South Milwaukee Pizza Hut

Erik S. Hanley, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Updated ·2 min read
South Milwaukee police responded to the Pizza Hut at 124 N. Chicago Ave. on Wednesday, Feb. 7.
South Milwaukee police responded to the Pizza Hut at 124 N. Chicago Ave. on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Authorities are investigating what South Milwaukee Police Chief Bill Jessup called "a suspicious death" at Pizza Hut, 124 N. Chicago Ave., Wednesday.

A news release from South Milwaukee police said a call came in at 11:04 a.m. Feb. 7 "for a report of a dead body in a garbage cart." The police department is being assisted by the State Crime Lab.

Law enforcement said in an update Feb. 8 that the body was that of a male and they are investigating this situation as a homicide.

"We are waiting for confirmation on the identity of the deceased male and will provide an update to the investigation when more information is available," South Milwaukee police said in a statement.

A Pizza Hut regional representative, who asked not to be named, said the restaurant's general manager found a body in the dumpster when she went to take the garbage out on Wednesday.

"All I know is they're treating it as a homicide," the representative said.

Others on scene said the body was found by a GFL Environmental garbage truck driver and was in a barrel next to the dumpster.

Jessup declined to comment on the accuracy of either narrative.

In addition to South Milwaukee police, officials from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Office of Crime Scene Response and Wisconsin State Patrol troopers were also on the scene.

Workers in white full-body protective suits were spotted behind large crime scene barricades erected around the dumpsters at the South Milwaukee Pizza Hut.
Workers in white full-body protective suits were spotted behind large crime scene barricades erected around the dumpsters at the South Milwaukee Pizza Hut.

Workers in white, full-body protective suits could be seen behind large crime scene barricades erected around the dumpsters.

Evidence markers littered the parking lot, forming a line from the dumpster enclosure to the restaurant and could be seen near two doors on adjacent sides of Pizza Hut.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office confirmed they responded to the location for a death investigation.

Contact Erik S. Hanley at erik.hanley@jrn.com. Like/follow his Facebook page, The Redheadliner, and follow him on X @ES_Hanley.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: South Milwaukee police investigating after body found near Pizza Hut