A Wisconsin man, Aaron Nelson, 43, has been arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife, Alexis Nelson, 42, and subsequently presenting her wedding ring to a new fiancée he met on the dating app Tinder.
The Alleged Crime
According to prosecutors, Aaron Nelson killed his wife and concealed her body before claiming she had died. He then gave her wedding ring to a new girlfriend, whom he met online. Alexis Nelson's body has not yet been recovered.
On April 2, 2025, Aaron created a new Facebook account under the name 'James Nelson' and changed his relationship status to 'widowed,' as reported by WISC News.
Neighbor's Account
Neighbor Carrie Peaine told WITI-TV News that she typically saw Alexis only in the company of her husband and often heard the couple arguing inside their home. 'I still, I wish he would just tell ’em where her body is,' Peaine said. 'What he did with her at least, you know. The family needs it.'
Arrest and Charges
On Friday, Aaron was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in connection with his wife's disappearance. He appeared in Dodge County Court the following day, where a judge set his bond at $1 million cash.
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office issued a statement acknowledging the difficulty of the investigation for Alexis Nelson's family and the community. 'Because this matter is now before the court, and out of respect for the family, the judicial process, and the continued integrity of the investigation, no further details or comments will be released by law enforcement at this time,' the statement added.
Investigation Details
The arrest followed an investigation into Alexis' disappearance after family members reported her missing, stating they had not heard from her since May 2025. In February, the sheriff's office released a missing-person flyer for Alexis, announcing that both it and the Beaver Dam Police Department were actively searching for clues.
Investigators determined the couple, who lived together in Beaver Dam, were last seen together on March 28, 2025, on surveillance footage from a Kwik Trip convenience store. Cellphone records allegedly showed she later moved to Sun Prairie, about 30 miles south, marking her last known activity.
According to a criminal complaint, just one day later, on March 30, 2025, Aaron purchased a 32-gallon trash can. Additional evidence uncovered in the following weeks pointed to his responsibility for his wife's death, including giving conflicting accounts of what happened to her. Aaron told some people his wife died from excessive alcohol use and others that it was cancer.
Abusive History
The complaint also claims that Aaron was abusive toward Alexis and that a domestic incident led her to file a restraining order, resulting in him having to live with a coworker.
New Relationship and Discovery
By April, Aaron had created a new Facebook profile, changed his status to 'widowed,' and met another woman on Tinder, beginning a relationship. Police interviewed his new girlfriend, who said the couple moved in together by the end of May. During the interview, detectives noticed she was wearing an engagement ring that was later determined to be Alexis' wedding ring.
In June, a search warrant was executed at the girlfriend's home, where investigators found the 32-gallon container Aaron had purchased months earlier. Authorities said the bucket tested positive for Alexis' blood and contained evidence consistent with human decomposition. Cadaver dogs also indicated the possible scent of human remains.
Despite these findings, Alexis' body has not yet been found. Nelson is booked into the Dodge County Jail and is scheduled to return to court on May 28.
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, resources are available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is open 24/7 at 800-799-7233. Domestic Abuse Intervention Services (DAIS) can be reached by phone at 608-251-4445, by text 24/7 at 608-420-4638, or online at abuseintervention.org.
