His friends expected to see 72-year-old Richard Fetzer at aweekend dog show in Wisconsin, just one of about 40 events a yearthat the Streamwood man judged.
But Fetzer never arrived at the American Kennel Club show in Fonddu Lac, prompting a worried friend to look for him at his Streamwoodranch house.
Inside, authorities say she made a horrifying discovery-Fetzer hadbeen fatally beaten and strangled in a bedroom. The Cook Countymedical examiner's office, in ruling his death a homicide, said itappeared Fetzer had been hanged with an electrical cord that wasfound wrapped around his neck.
On Monday, as police probed his death, friends tried to understandwhy Fetzer's life had ended so violently.
"He had no enemies and so many friends," said Peggy Haas, of farwest suburban Montgomery, who has known Fetzer for more than 30years. "We have absolutely no idea what could have happened."
There was no forced entry to the home, Streamwood police said.They said Fetzer-who lived alone-may have known his killer. Policedeclined Monday to comment further on the investigation into hisdeath.
Haas was one of those who became concerned when Fetzer, a well-known, AKC-certified judge who officiated at dog shows around thecountry, failed to arrive for the event that began Saturday in Fonddu Lac.
Another friend in the Chicago area eventually was contacted andfound Fetzer later that day when she went to his home to look forhim, Haas and authorities said.
Fetzer, a former special education teacher, enjoyed traveling tothe weekend events, both to judge the dog competitions and to minglewith dog owners and breeders.
"It's a great social thing-he loved it. And he was a very popularjudge," said Haas, who with her husband, Ed, and Fetzer, helped startthe Elgin Kennel Club nearly 20 years ago.
Fetzer also served on the organizing committee of theInternational Kennel Club of Chicago, which hosts an annual dog showat McCormick Place that typically draws tens of thousands ofspectators.
"He was a happy-go-lucky guy. He loved life," said Dori Auslander,vice president of the IKC.
Fetzer worked full time as an assistant manager at Brookstone, achain retail store in Schaumburg that sells electronic and householditems. He left the store about 5:30 p.m. Friday, Haas and others say.
Haas said Fetzer spent every Christmas for the last 25 years withher family. He was like an uncle to her three children, Haas said,and more recently, like a grandfather to her grandchildren.
"We're just heartbroken," she said.
Contributing: Frank Main
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