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Revisiting the Notorious Murder of a Notorious Milwaukeean

Von Trier
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Karl Lotharius bought what was formally known as "Riders" from Frank Rieder in 1978. Latharious continued the European theme and upscale cocktails, adding his own German heritage to the decor and name.

Von Trier has been a popular Milwaukee night spot for years – a bar on the east side which manages to be both vibrant and old world at the same time.  But the story of how Von Trier came to exist is an interesting one.

Equally as interesting is the ignominious end to the life of Von Trier’s founder, Karl Lotharius, who was murdered in 1981 – a crime that remains unsolved.  Zach Brooke writes about the life and death of Karl Lotharius in the May issue ofMilwaukee Magazine, and he shared the details of this unsolved story: