Michael J. Burroughs Sentenced for 2006 Homicide in Crawford County

Burroughs sentenced to 31 years in prison for death of Shannon Fischer

MADISON — Michael J. Burroughs, of Marquette, Iowa, was sentenced today in Crawford County Circuit Court before the Hon. James P. Czajkowski to 31 years in prison after pleading no contest on January 24, 2012, to First Degree Reckless Homicide.

The Court sentenced Burroughs to 25 years initial confinement followed by six years extended supervision for his involvement in the December 18, 2006, death of 23-year-old Shannon Fischer.  A felony charge of Hiding a Corpse was dismissed.

According to the Criminal Complaint, Burroughs confessed in October of 2010 to police to killing his one-time girlfriend, by strangling her and putting her body in a dumpster outside of his apartment in Prairie du Chien in December of 2006.  Fischer’s body has never been recovered.

Crawford County District Attorney Tim Baxter prosecuted the case.  The Prairie du Chien Police Department investigated the case with assistance from the Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.