Schultz’s death still “not a homicide” as official news release awaits agent’s return from vacation

The official news release regarding truck driver David Schultz’s cause of death is pending the return of a Division of Criminal Investigation agent from summer vacation. 

53-year-old truck driver David Schultz first went missing in Iowa in November 2023 after authorities found his truck parked and loaded with hogs on the side of a road on his regular route. Schultz was found in a field five months later on April 24th. PReliminary autopsy results showed “no signs of trauma or serious injury.” Now, the final ruling on Schultz’s death is still considered “not a homicide,” despite his family’s suspicions. 

The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner has officially finished the forensic autopsy and Schultz’s death is still believed to have not been a homicide, but details on his cause of death have not yet been released. Officials say they expect to provide the public with an official news release on the incident this week, but that the details of the autopsy results may never be publicly released, reported The Gazette.

“Normally, if it was a homicide, we would release that kind of stuff. That’s not the case. It’s not a homicide,” said Darrell Simmons, special agent in charge at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). “So I don’t know that we would probably release anything more, since there’s really no threat or concern to the community.”

“We plan to comment in the coming days,” Smith said, stating that his office is waiting to comment until the CDI agent who has been helping with the case returns from summer vacation. 

In May, Schultz’s family and friends stated that they “don’t feel comfortable with the results of the initial autopsy,” and would seek a second opinion.