Rapist also a suspect in murder of romantic "rival"

Detectives who believe that a recently convicted rapist also killed a man who was perceived to be the rival of the rape victim are looking for clues from the general public. Michael Haydon of Plover, WI was convicted of illegally taping, stealing the dogs of, then raping his ex girlfriend on November 17, 2003.

A Sauk County jury eventually found the 41-year-old guilty of a single count of first degree sexual assault, as well as charges of threats to injure, false imprisonment and several counts of wire-tapping.The Portage County detective who led the case against Haydon, however, hopes it won't stop there. Detective Sgt. Mike Lukas of the Portage County Sheriff's Department says the rape conviction might flush out witnesses who had been afraid to testify against Haydon in a Portage County homicide case.Lukas served as the lead detective on both the Marathon County sexual assault case and the homicide case against Haydon in Portage County.

The homicide case was dropped in November 2007 because of a lack of evidence. In that case, prosecutors said Haydon had killed a man who Haydon mistakenly thought was the lover of the Mosinee woman he was accused of raping Nov. 17, 2003.Kolbe & Kolbe truck driver Pat Zemke was found shot to death in the cab of his truck the morning of Nov. 18.Haydon was arrested on charges of homicide in 2006.

After prolonged DNA testing of materials found in Zemke's cab failed to produce hard evidence against Haydon, charges were dismissed, although prosecutors said Haydon remained a suspect.He remains the only suspect, Lukas says, in the open homicide investigation into Zemke's death. Both Lukas and Portage County District Attorney Tom Eagon said they hope Haydon's conviction might convince people with knowledge of the case to speak out.

"A lot of people were scared by this guy in this area," said Lukas. "If people have been holding information, it's not going to be held against them because of their fear. We'd really just like them to come forward."

Haydon faces 60 years in prison for the sexual assault and other charges. He was acquitted of a single burglary count.