Ramelle Bintz

Door County Advocate

The Door County Sheriff's Department is taking a closer look at an Oconomowoc man who left a loaded handgun at the Egg Harbor Fun Park on Aug. 9 after learning he was not the first member of his family to leave behind a loaded weapon in a public restroom.

Gerald Hitchler, 76, and his wife, Susan, 67, who have a second home in Door County, visited the fun park and Gerald apparently left a .380-caliber Ruger in a brown holster on the floor of the restroom. A customer found the gun and turned it in to the owner, who in turn contacted the Door County Sheriff's Department.

A sheriff's incident report noted the gun was loaded with seven rounds of ammunition. The serial number was traced to the owner, and the report indicated Gerald was shocked when he was called and learned they had the weapon. The case was initially closed and Gerald was supposed to pick it up this week.

Sheriff's Investigator Connie Schuster confirmed they received additional information and the case has been reopened showing Gerald's wife, Susan Hitchler, also left a semiautomatic loaded handgun in a stall of the women's restroom on March 19 at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield.

According to online court records, Susan Hitchler was originally charged with endangering safety by the use of a dangerous weapon but prosecutors later moved to dismiss the charge. Waukesha County Judge Lloyd Carter ruled June 19 on a defense motion to dismiss the case due to lack of evidence that a crime had been committed.

Susan Hitchler's lawyer, Tom Grieve, Brookfield, argued at the time the gun was left, the church was hosting a women's Bible study group, according to a report in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Although the bathroom was accessible to girls in first through fifth grades who also were in the church, there was no proof to show any girls entered the bathroom before the loaded gun was found, the report said.

Susan had removed the gun, forgot it and called the church about 30 minutes after she left the gun in the restroom, that report said.

No charges have been refiled against Susan Hitchler, and the Door County District Attorney's office is considering whether charges will be filed against Gerald Hitchler.

Gerald was contacted by phone and asked if he realized the gun was missing and he responded, "not really."

He said the incident was "funny, accidental" and "not a big deal."

"It's like you lost a pet," he said on Monday. "This is a very minor issue. Nothing happened. Nobody was hurt."

Sheriff Terry Vogel said there is no reason to suspect either action was done intentionally and the case is under investigation.

The Hitchlers have concealed carry permits, and it appears each has a similar weapon.

There were no signs posted at the Egg Harbor Fun Park forbidding concealed carry at the time of the incident but a recent Facebook posting says the park now plans to do so.

Contact Ramelle Bintz at rbintz@doorcountyadvocate.com.