A Missouri man classified as a tier 3 sex offender was arrested in Baxter County after authorities determined he was out of compliance with state registration rules.
Frederick Wade Witzke Jr., 64, of Missouri, faces a felony charge of failure to comply with registration and reporting requirements. According to the Baxter County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to a residence for a welfare check based on an anonymous tip. The caller reported a woman was living with a violent, noncompliant sex offender.
Deputies encountered Witzke at the property, where he claimed he had only been there for one day. However, construction workers at the site disputed this, indicating that he had been staying there for more than a week. One worker told deputies he had been at the worksite for two weeks and that the woman at the house mentioned meeting Witzke on a dating website, describing him as violent.
Authorities contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol to confirm Witzke’s registration status. Records showed his last registration occurred in September 2023 and that he was out of compliance. When pressed further, Witzke admitted he might have been at the residence for two days, contradicting earlier statements and witnesses’ accounts. Deputies also discovered personal property and clothing belonging to Witzke at the residence, suggesting an extended stay.
Witzke became a registered sex offender in 1992 following a conviction for first-degree sexual abuse involving a 17-year-old female. The offense, which occurred in Rolla, Missouri, in 1988, classified him as a tier 3 offender—the most severe level under Missouri’s three-tier system.
Court records also show Witzke has a history of legal troubles, including seven other arrests in Missouri since 1991. His charges have included domestic assault, failure to register as a sex offender, unlawful firearm possession, illegal taking of wildlife, and violation of orders of protection. He has faced multiple sentences, including probation, jail time, and monetary fines.
Following his arrest in Baxter County, Witzke was released after posting a $15,000 bond.