Teen held in death of real estate developer (UPDATE)

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A 17-year-old male relative of developer Ron Siepmann was set to appear in Waukesha County Circuit Court early Tuesday afternoon in the death of the founder of Siepmann Realty Corp., Pewaukee.

Siepmann, 78, was found dead on the property of his town of Merton home late Sunday morning, said Detective Steve Pederson of the Waukesha County Sheriff’s Department. Detectives were still at the scene late Monday afternoon, he said.

Siepmann’s fatal injuries appear to have been caused by a sharp instrument, Pederson said. He would not elaborate on how the 17-year-old is related to the victim, but confirmed the boy being detained at Waukesha County Jail is related to the death.

Siepmann was a well-known developer in the Waukesha area and will be remembered by those who knew and worked with him for his kindness and attention to detail, said Michael Nell, chief executive of contractor Gerald Nell Inc., Waukesha.

Nell’s late father Gerald, the founder of Gerald Nell Inc., had known Siepmann since grade school, Michael Nell said, and the two men’s companies have a more than 40-year business relationship.

“It’s tragic,” Nell said of Siepmann’s death. “Ron has always been one of the nicest guys. He was a detail man. He always wanted to do that extra touch. He really took development to the next level through his focus on each detail.”

— Caley Clinton