By Shereen Siewert
RHINELANDER — A 69-year-old Minocqua man will face murder charges in connection with the decades old death of his wife, according to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Department
Robin Mendez was arrested Monday morning, suspected of killing Barbara Mendez, who was 32 years old when she was found dead inside Park City Credit Union in Minocqua. The April 28, 1982 murder has remained unsolved for decades, but sheriff’s officials meticulously continued to work the case until an arrest could be made.
Sheriff’s officials and Minocqua Police spent the past several months going over all available information, including witness statements, before putting it together into one comprehensive report for Oneida County District Attorney Michael Schiek. Investigators say they re-interviewed every witness they could locate.
Based on the evidence that now exists, Shiek says, Robin Mendez has been arrested and will appear in Oneida County Circuit Court today.
“This is an old case and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has continued to work it,” Shiek said. “The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office and the Oneida County District Attorney’s Office have been working together for years to ensure the person who did this is held accountable. We feel at this time, the evidence supports the arrest. ”
Robin Mendez has a criminal history that includes a 2002 conviction for first degree sexual assault of a child and invasion of privacy, according to online court documents. Police have not released a possible motive for the murder, and no official charges have yet been filed.
Anyone with additional information about Barbara Mendez’s murder should contact Captain Terri Hook at 715-361-5100.
