A man from Dodgeville, Wisconsin, was arrested early Tuesday morning in Nebraska after leading authorities on a chase. A deceased woman—believed to be 67-year-old Dorinda Segebrecht, who was reported missing from Dodgeville—was found in the back seat of the suspect’s vehicle.
The Dodgeville Police Department reported that the deceased woman matched Segebrecht’s age and physical description. Authorities are awaiting formal identification to confirm her identity.
Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) officials stated they received a tip that a vehicle linked to the missing person case was heading west on I-80. A trooper located the vehicle in Lincoln just before 2 a.m. and attempted to make a traffic stop. The driver, however, fled, initiating a pursuit.
The suspect drove the wrong way on I-80, heading west in the eastbound lanes. Troopers chose not to follow directly due to safety risks, but another trooper monitored the chase from the westbound side. Eventually, the suspect lost control and crashed into a creek in a construction zone median.
Troopers found the body of a deceased woman in the back seat of the vehicle. Investigators confirmed she was already dead prior to the crash.
After a four-hour search involving drones, K-9s, and a helicopter, a Lancaster County deputy located and arrested the suspect about four miles from the crash site. He was taken into custody without further incident.
The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Gavin Thompson of Dodgeville, was booked into the Lancaster County Jail. He faces charges of flight to avoid arrest and willful reckless driving.
Authorities in Wisconsin and Nebraska, including the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation, are collaborating on the case. Officials say there is no known connection between Thompson and the victim.
“This appears to be a random act of violence,” said Dodgeville Police Chief Nick Wilhelm. “We do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the public.”
