Volp’s body found
By LISA M. HOFFMANN, Staff WriterArticle Photos
MARINETTE, Wis. - Officials have positively identified the body found in a creek in Dunbar on Monday as Eric M. Volp of Iron Mountain.
At a press conference Thursday, law enforcement officials said Volp died an unnatural death that can be classified as suspicious.
Volp, 28, was reported missing in October 2008.
Marinette County Sheriff Jim Kanikula said the body was discovered in K.C. Creek in the town of Dunbar. K.C. Creek crosses U.S. Highway 8 and is located approximately 1.5 miles from the town of Dunbar, approximately 20 miles from Iron Mountain.
Kanikula said the body was found some 150 yards south of the bridge by a trout fisherman on Monday.
Marinette County Chief Deputy Jerry Sauve said Volp's body was identified by a unique tattoo and dental records.
"Iron Mountain Police Department did a wonderful job on their missing persons case. Fortunately the tattoo was preserved," Sauve said.
He said the tattoo on the back of Volp's neck was distinctive - two faces, one smiling one frowning. Dental records were also examined. The body was partially clothed.
The case is an ongoing investigation by Marinette County law enforcement and the Iron Mountain Police Department. Police are referring to the death as unnatural, but not a homicide.
Kanikula said the forensic pathologist's opinion after the examination of the body, confirmed the remains could have been in the creek since last October.
He added the doctor's findings are consistent with the nine-month time frame since Volp was reported missing.
Although the cause of death is listed as undetermined, officials said it was not from drowning.
Kanikula also said there was significant trauma to the remains.
Sauve said there were fractured bones, and "due to decomposition they were not completely intact." The autopsy results show Volp had some broken bones. Volp suffered blunt trauma to his chest, some trauma to his head and several broken bones but the exact cause of death is unknown.
Several tissue samples have been taken from Volp's body and will be submitted to the Wisconsin Crime Lab. Any new information on what type of drugs or alcohol, if any, were in his system could take four to six weeks.
Police said there is no person of interest at this time, but they are not ruling out foul play.
Marinette County Sheriff's Department will continue to work with the Iron Mountain Police Department.
When it is determined where the crime was committed, if in fact a crime did occur, charges will be determined by the prosecuting attorney in Michigan or the district attorney in Wisconsin.
Iron Mountain Police Chief Pete Flaminio confirmed Volp was last seen on foot and alone at the North Stables Pub in Iron Mountain. He had made numerous calls of short duration between 2:19 a.m. and 2:42 a.m. Oct. 12.
Flaminio said the last call was at 2:42 a.m. with no calls made after that time. Because of the short duration of the calls, police do not believe Volp made contact with anyone he called.
Volp's cell phone was never recovered.
Police said numerous people, including bartenders, were contacted and all leads were followed-up, resulting in unconfirmed sightings.
Police do not believe Volp, who was insulin dependent, ever made it back to his Iron Mountain apartment.
Kanikula said they are not going to rule out any possibilities.
Police said the heavily-wooded area where the body was found makes for a difficult investigation because of the tall grass, big ants, and numerous trees. The area continues to be searched for evidence.
Flaminio said there is no indication of foul play other than Volp disappeared. What crossed investigators' minds is Volp got a ride.
"He was somebody that would engage in conversation," Flaminio said.
Volp's family members, including his aunt, Maria Volp of Iron Mountain, were notified of the identification prior to the press conference on Thursday. Maria Volp told The Daily News the family is grateful Volp's body has finally been found.
"Finding his body does not give closure, but it does comfort us to be able to put him to rest in a more worthy place," she said. "Finding his body will also allow police to investigate his disappearance and death once again to hopefully find answers as to who caused it."
Volp was a nearly lifelong resident of New Berlin, Wis., and moved to Iron Mountain in December 2007 to live with his aunt.
"He came here to build work skills and gain some job experience," Maria Volp explained. "During the 10 months he was here, he gained experience not only in work skills, but also in his faith, going to church regularly."
The Volp family held a memorial at the end of October when they assumed he had died.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:55 AM
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varda, what does your last post mean? Again, call the police and tell them I was there or even killed Eric Volp. It seems like you have enough to go on.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:54 AM
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I think people like jimmy butterman were smart to exit this circus.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:50 AM
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The police have a very good idea what happened. And just because they say they have nothing or aren't screaming up to people's houses with the assault rifles drawn certainly doesn't mean they don't have leads. The cops aren't stupid. They know who is who in the scene Volp frequented and they also have leads.
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jdm909
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07-10-09 11:48 AM
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The police have talked to many people about this and what they have heard could have happened.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:47 AM
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Maybe I am the police. A guy like you would probably be very interested in finding out if I was I suspect.
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jdm909
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07-10-09 11:45 AM
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Varda-Have you read all of these comments and all of the previous ones? Its not hard to piece together parts of what people say and even then these are only ideas of what may have happened. It doesn't mean that anyone was there.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:40 AM
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Oh, I think you would be surprised as to who has heard this before. Again, call the police, if you are sure I am guilty of something. You might be right.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:35 AM
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Varda, you have every right to call the police and tell them I was there. In fact, I will meet you at the station and you can watch them cuff me. Call them right now. 774-1234.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 11:34 AM
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Ok, let's examine the drunk driving possibility. Eric is bombed out of his mind and is stumbling down the street, another drunkard, in a car, is so smashed he hits him. Then, in a drunken stupor, picks him up, puts him in a car, then hatches a scheme to drive him to Dunbar and throw him in a trout stream. But nobody sees it, hears it or reports a traffic mishap of any kind. It just slips right under the radar just like it never happened. Very highly unlikely.
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alifeoflovetaken
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07-10-09 11:28 AM
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My thoughts and only toughts...he left the bar DRUNK walking and stumbled into the path of a drunk driver like so many have said before.The people FREAKED out and didnt want to be charged with drunk driving and MURDER so ..in the end they live the rest of there lives with this on there back..May they burn in hell.
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Dawn3779
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07-10-09 11:12 AM
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Eric, I miss you and I love you!! You've been a great friend to me for many years and I will never forget you! RIP
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getoverallofyourselves
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07-10-09 10:25 AM
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click "Report Abuse" ... we do have that option... R.I.P Eric Volp, may your murderer(s) be brought to justice and pay for what they have done to you.
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StormyClearweather
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07-10-09 10:21 AM
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Go back and look over posts on the Johnson case> Butterman and myself broke news on that case LONG before ANY news outlet did. To the few here who would rather talk smack about jimmy and others, go to another site and do it. There are people who want to discuss this case.
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breadlife
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07-10-09 10:17 AM
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He joked about Kelly Clarkson on our weekend and he had me busting a gut. I pray that Eric’s life can be remembered in the light of his relationship with God through the Son who redeems all. I pray that others who know Eric might be comforted in God’s plan despite us no knowing all the answers. We must trust in His plan and know that our fulfillment in life is found through faithfully doing our part in His will. May Eric Volp be in the hands of God and may he pray for God’s mercy on us all.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 10:17 AM
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Eric said a lot of things to a lot of people. He was known for being a big talker. Not in a bad way, but embellishing things. It was just like him to drop names. There was some sort of memorial at the train bridge, but as far as Eric going there "with" Tina or anyone else from B's was probably just him talking. He was going there with his aunt.
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breadlife
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07-10-09 10:16 AM
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I met Eric last fall while serving on the Roman Catholic Cursillo weekend. Eric was like a cat on a hot tin roof. I quickly found that this young man was complex but I could see a compassionate and loving heart. I don’t know all the circumstances of his life but I do know that, like most of us, Eric was weighed down by the burden of sin. I found in Eric’s search for the truth that he had moments of keen self-awareness and a profound, child-like appreciation for our loving and merciful God. To say child-like is a compliment of the highest magnitude as Eric’s vision of God gave him faith that had the potential to move mountains. His life and times to me seemed monumental in light of the relative advantages and favors that I have been blessed with. His searching for the one and most perfect truth in the face of Jesus the Christ inspired me. He was imperfect and only by the blood of Christ was he made perfect in his suffering. Eric had a great sense of humor and he made me laugh.
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KellyJ
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07-10-09 9:45 AM
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Why does anybody here feed the trolls? There are a dozen people here who want to hear what Jimmy and others have to say. There are 3 people here who can't discuss the story. To respond to them gives them credibility. Let's get back to the story and hopefully Jimmy and Big Duke will be back to discuss what they know and/or their suspicions.
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StormyClearweather
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07-10-09 9:12 AM
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Your "sources" tell you jimmy is a teenager? HAHAHAHAHAHA My sources tell me your an idiot! He is a CREDIBLE news source whether you want to believe it or not.
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danno4748
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07-10-09 9:12 AM
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when this is all said and done i think the people of iron mountain should put up a memorial for eric him and tina b was to go to that 1 on skidmore dr butt they never did show up he called me the nite before all this happen and said me and tina would be there mmmm what u think happend
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updingo
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07-10-09 9:06 AM
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i was slamming the family like some other people did. am i proud of what i said,*****no!! i can't even look into his eyes in his pic on here. i hope other people who did some slamming are feeling the same way i do.
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updingo
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07-10-09 9:04 AM
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a lot of people thought that eric was still alive, including me!! even some of the few people who helped in the search gave up. too weird that his own father couldn't come up to help with a search because he had a dentist appointment. and then sister maria practically falling off the face of the earth. yeah, i for one thought it was a big farce.
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updingo
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07-10-09 9:00 AM
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i would be surprised if jimmy comes back on these posts. i was online with him last night and asked him to come back but he refused. plus he told me he does not know who duke is.
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emtupmi17
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07-10-09 2:18 AM
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Where is Jimmy?
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emtupmi17
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07-10-09 2:16 AM
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some ppl no more then thay can write, If u talk to the cops u do not write what they tell you.I wish Eric was still alive, Even no he not he is in a better place I pray. The ppl left here are the ones that hurt the most.
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BigDuke
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07-10-09 2:15 AM
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Sammy it sounds like you have no idea about what you speak.
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