Five felony counts for each defendant
The Manitowoc County District Attorney's Office amended the charges against Dominic Pilgreen, 26, of Oconomowoc, and filed new charges against Nathan Reichard, 15, of Two Rivers, according to city police. Both defendants face five felony counts, all as party to a crime.
Along with first-degree intentional homicide, both are charged with false imprisonment, hiding a corpse and theft from a person or corpse. Pilgreen also faces a charge of physical abuse of a child; Reichard's remaining charge is substantial battery.
Body recovered from the harbor
Police and fire crews recovered Vertz's body on the evening of Oct. 16, 2026, after it was found in the water near Seagull Marina at 1400 Lake St. The marina is on the south side of the Lake Michigan harbor in Two Rivers. The body was transferred to the Manitowoc County Coroner's Office.
Police said they arrested one suspect that Friday, the day the body was found. The other suspect was already being held in an unrelated case.
The investigation extends across several locations and jurisdictions, according to police. Two Wisconsin Department of Justice agencies—the State Crime Lab and the Division of Criminal Investigation—are helping Two Rivers investigators with evidence, interviews and follow-up work.
Investigative work also prompted the closure of Zander Park and the Ice Age Trail in Two Rivers during the Oct. 17-18 weekend, police said. Both have since reopened.
Family support and fundraising caution
Police urged parents to talk with their children and said the department has coordinated closely with the Two Rivers Public School District during the investigation. Students and families can seek support from school guidance counselors and school resource officers.
"Our deepest condolences remain with Payton's family, friends, and all who loved Payton," Police Chief Ben Meinnert said in a statement. He also asked people to continue respecting the family's privacy.
During the investigation, Meinnert cautioned that social media posts were spreading misinformation about Vertz and the suspects. Some GoFundMe pages misrepresented the situation and could be scams, he warned, describing the police department as the sole source of factual information about the investigation.
A GoFundMe account has been established to help Vertz's family. A community benefit is also scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Two Rivers Community House, 1710 W. Park St.
