Authorities: Son killed parents in Middleton double-homicide Tuesday

MIDDLETON, Wis (CIVIC MEDIA) – Authorities have publicly identified the couple killed in Middleton Tuesday, and identified the suspect.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett released new information Thursday morning. Police believe the two victims, David and Teri Pabst, were shot and killed by their 25-year-old son, James Pabst.

Their son’s girlfriend, Sienna Lewis, spoke to the Wisconsin State Journal. She said James told her that “everyone has to die”. Lewis called police, and authorities began their search for James.

State troopers eventually found him in Vernon County, where he died by suicide after a standoff with police. 

WISC reports that Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Kristina Boardman emailed her staff following the murders, commending the former bureau director for his almost 40 years of service.

The State Journal reports Teresa Pabst was a special education teacher and paraeducator at Kromrey Middle School from 2017 to 2022. Middleton-Cross Plains School District said in a statement to WMTV that Teresa was a “valued member” of the middle school.