BLANCHARDVILLE — Early morning June 17, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office investigated a series of crimes including two stolen vehicles, damaged property and the burglary of Cork Down Saloon. 

Two teens, Joseph Anthony Quaglia, 18, of rural Mount Horeb, and Owen Murdock, 17, of rural Galena, Ill., have been found as suspects to the investigation. 

The suspects are alleged to have stolen a vehicle from a residence on Hill Street and proceeded towards Iowa County where it was crashed in a ditch on County Highway F. The individuals then returned to Blanchardville and stole another vehicle, which was later recovered after being submerged in Yellowstone Lake. 

According to Lafayette County Sheriff Reg Gill, there was “substantial damage” to the vehicle located within the lake. There is has not been an estimate for the damages yet. 

The pair also burglarized the nearby restaurant, Cork Down Saloon on Lake Road in Fayette Township, twice. An amount of money taken has yet to be realized. 

Quaglia and Murdock, identified through the saloon’s surveillance system, have not set an official court appearance yet. Due to age and jurisdiction reasons, Murdock was interviewed in Iowa and has not been taken into custody. Quaglia, the former three-time state qualifying wrestler and cross country runner, remains in custody.

Charges will be referred to the Lafayette County District Attorney. Assisting in the investigation was the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office, the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, Ill., the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Natural Resources and the Darlington Fire Department’s Dive Team.