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.
|
sammyto
|
|
|---|---|
|
07-10-09 2:10 AM
|
And do you know he isn't go back and reread everything he is just rewording the already known facts. If he is not in his teens he is a very lonely man. If he does have all the answers why hasn't this been solved ? Why hasn't he went to the police with what he knows? He claims so much but yet he knows no more than the rest of us. Again go back and reread everything he has posted from the very beginning he contradicts himself from day one till now. He is alive , he is dead, he lives here, he lives there, he was here, he was there. Just seems to be a lot re-reporting and guessing to me. But then who am I. I'm not an expert in the field of psychology. I'm just someone with a open mind that takes the time to read the facts no matter what way they are worded.
|
|
emtupmi17
|
|
|
07-10-09 2:10 AM
|
nice to be a teen ager again hey jimmy :}
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 2:04 AM
|
Maybe I am jimmybutterman. Maybe I am not. Maybe I am batman.
|
|
KittyKitty
|
|
|
07-10-09 2:03 AM
|
updingo said "omg. jim and duke are saying the same things..." TruthSeeker said "they both speak (type) in a similar way." Maybe bcuz they ARE one and the same:O
|
|
froggy
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:53 AM
|
Big Duke Sammyto doesn't know all he knows how to do is blow alot of hot air out of his A**
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:49 AM
|
Sammy, I would like to ask you. How do you know jimmy is a teen? Are you an expert in the field of psychology? That is a pretty straightforward and direct question. Do you know for a fact jimmy is a teenager and is "scamming" people?
|
|
sammyto
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:38 AM
|
oh no a "HE CAN"T SEE HIS PENIS JOKE" Really that's the best you can do. You my friend are in your early teens. I have read everything that Mr butterman has posted with this story from the beginning and along with his "helpful insight" on other stories. WAKE UP PEOPLE YOUR BEING SCAMMED
|
|
trackside
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:19 AM
|
I know
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:18 AM
|
Trackside, you are very warm. Very warm.
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:14 AM
|
Sammy is a loudmouth, too. Big words from a man who probably hasn't seen his penis since 1987.
|
|
trackside
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:14 AM
|
I dont beleave that sammyto
|
|
trackside
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:11 AM
|
I beleave he was trying to talk to a couple people and pretty much got told to shut up and go away and he dint leave them alone,, now what happened from there not positive yet,, I'll be back in the am with more I hope
|
|
sammyto
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:11 AM
|
My sources say butterman is a child in his late teens with nothing better to do than "report" things we already know. You foolish people can't see he is just taking the known facts and rewording them to make himself feel popular. Everything he says has been reported here and else where or are his "BEST GUESS". I wish the world wasn't so gullible.
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:10 AM
|
If I remember I think jimmy said he wouldn't be shocked if Eric was alive.
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:09 AM
|
There were many people that thought Eric was still alive. And there was some reason to believe that for awhile.
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:03 AM
|
truth, i haven't been disappointed yet by what jimmy has posted. mostly turns out to be true.
|
|
dagolfnut
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:03 AM
|
local...........why do you think the cops screwed up the Mack case?
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:02 AM
|
It looks like the killer could confess on here and there would be some that simply wouldn't believe it.
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:02 AM
|
good night everyone. i'll catch up in the a.m.!!!
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:02 AM
|
good night everyone. i'll catch up in the a.m.!!!
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 1:00 AM
|
i'm glad you got on here duke. maybe you can set some people straight. jimmy gave up. i don't like stupid people either!!
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 12:58 AM
|
lets play romper room and look through the idiot looking glass.... i see loco and sammy and fitch. did i catch everyone?
|
|
BigDuke
|
|
|
07-10-09 12:57 AM
|
Sources don't have to be revealed. What they say should be verified before a report is given. Like I said, if jimmybutterman said the body found Monday was a 56 year old woman because his source told him, then he'd be a crackpot and would have no credibility.
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 12:54 AM
|
omg. jim and duke are saying the same things. you idiots that think they don't know what they are talking about will find out soon enough. and to you loco, if you WERE a journalist, you should know you don't reveal your sources, dumb***
|
|
updingo
|
|
|
07-10-09 12:52 AM
|
hey fenixx. glad to see you on here
|