Mark Riesberg: Missing Calhoun County man found dead with apparent gunshot wound in car

CALHOUN COUNTY, IOWA: Mark Riesberg, a 54-year-old from Rockwell City who had been missing for over a month, was discovered dead in his Chrysler PT Cruiser at a "wooded abandoned property" in Calhoun County, according to local news outlet WeAreIowa.

The body of the deceased was claimed to have been discovered by members of the United Cajun Navy, a nonprofit search-and-rescue organization.

Preliminary findings by the officials at the sheriff's office indicate that the cause of death for Riesberg was a single gunshot wound. However, foul play is not being suspected.

The body has been sent to the state medical examiner for autopsy.

When did Mark Riesberg disappear?

Riesberg had gone missing from his home along Highway 20 on October 28. He had reportedly left behind his phone and wallet.

According to KCCI, Riesberg's disappearance was reported by his employer, Essentia in Lytton, on November 1.

Mary Brown, the deceased's sister, told the local outlet, "Wednesday, when he didn't come into his work, they went to his place, saw he wasn't there. And then they called law enforcement for a welfare check, and they weren't able to find him."

Update shared by Calhoun County Sheriff's Office

A press release shared by the Sheriff's Office read, "The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office responded to a call at 1710 230th St, Jolley, Iowa, on December 1, 2023, at 1.35 pm. Mark Edward Riesberg, 54, from Rockwell City, Iowa, was found deceased in a Chrysler PT Cruiser at a wooded abandoned property, with preliminary findings suggesting a single gunshot wound."

"Riesberg's body has been sent to the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner for autopsy. While investigations are ongoing, foul play is not suspected. The Calhoun County Sheriff's Office was assisted by Calhoun County EMS and the United Cajun Navy group during the initial response," the press release further read.

Mark Riesberg's disappearance coincided with another Iowa man

David Schultz of Wall Lake went missing at a similar time, but authorities do not believe that the two incidents are related.

His wife Sarah Schultz told WeAreIowa, "I want him home. You know, my kids need their dad. He's a good man, I just, I want my David ... he's mine. And someone took him, I know someone took him."

The search for Schultz is still being conducted by the authorities.