STAR JOURNAL REPORT

A Minocqua man has been arrested for allegedly killing his wife 36 years ago. According to the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Robin Mendez, 69, was apprehended Feb. 5 for the April 1982 death of Barbara Mendez at the Park City Credit Union building, which was then located on the corner of Co. Hwy.  J and US 51 in Minocqua.

According to the county’s press release, over the past several months, the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has re-interviewed every witness they could locate and have compiled a report for District Attorney Michael Schiek. Mendez will appear in Oneida County Circuit Court today at 1:15 p.m.

“I have met with the daughters of Barbara Mendez and it has been very important to me that we ensure we have done everything we could to find Barbara Mendez’s murderer,” said sheriff Grady Hartman. “Today, we have verified what many within the community have told us.”

“This is an old case and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office has continued to work it,” Schiek 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. ”

Anyone with information about Barbara Mendez’s murder is asked to contact Captain Terri Hook at 715-361-5100.