3 more arrested in connection with man found in Lake Mendota

Three more men were arrested last weekend in connection with the death of 23-year-old Jacob Payne, of Fitchburg, whose body was found in Lake Mendota.

Payne’s body was found April 11 by a canoeist in Lake Mendota off Governor’s Island, according to the sheriff’s office. Detectives said the body had obvious signs of injury when it was recovered.

Rudy Alberto Ramirez-Milian, 27, of Waunakee, and Juan Aguilar-Vargas, 27, of Madison, were arrested last week on charges of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse.

The sheriff’s office said Monday that Saul R. Garcia-Rosario, 35, Elmer O. Ramirez-Milian, 37, and Erlin Y. Vargas, 28, were arrested on suspicion of aiding a felon and party to a crime of hiding a corpse.

Detectives said all three were present at a garage on Acker Road the night of the killing and accompanied Ramirez-Millan and Aguilar-Vargas to Lake Mendota to dispose of Payne’s body.

Detectives have also said they’ve recovered new evidence, including Payne’s shoes.

Payne did not have a permanent address, but had most recently been staying at a vehicle repair shop at 4260 Acker Road in the town of Burke, according to investigators.