LANCASTER, Wis. — November 13, 2026 — The final autopsy report on Muscoda Police Officer Kate Fleischauer has determined her death was accidental, the Grant County Sheriff’s Office said Friday, with the cause listed as fresh water drowning in an indoor pool and a contributing factor of acute alcohol and diphenhydramine intoxication.

Grant County Coroner Phyllis Fuerstenberg received the final report from UW-Forensic Pathology, the Sheriff’s Office said. The autopsy was conducted by a forensic pathologist at UW-Hospital in Madison at the Coroner’s request. The final report could not be completed until toxicology testing was finalized and the forensic pathologist reviewed all relevant investigative and medical information.

Fleischauer, 41, was found dead Sunday, October 18, 2026. Muscoda police officers were dispatched shortly after 1 p.m. that day to a residence on East Catherine Street following reports of an unresponsive individual in an indoor heated pool. Responding officers found Fleischauer and determined she was deceased. Muscoda Police Chief Bill Schramm requested the assistance of the Grant County Sheriff’s Office to conduct the death investigation. Fleischauer had served with the Muscoda Police Department for 12 years and was off duty at the time of her death.

The final findings come after some in the community questioned the preliminary conclusion that she died by accidental drowning. A petition asking the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation to review the case as a second opinion gathered more than 600 signatures in under 24 hours in late October.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office and Grant County Coroner’s Office said they recognize the community’s interest in receiving these findings and appreciate the patience shown while that process was completed.

“Officer Fleischauer was a valued and respected member of the Muscoda Police Department and the Grant County law enforcement community,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Our thoughts remain with Officer Fleischauer’s family, friends, colleagues, and the Muscoda community.”

Based on the findings of the Grant County Coroner and the completed investigation, no further information will be released, the Sheriff’s Office said.