A man from Tomah, Wisconsin, Michael Raymond Popp, has recently been charged with first-degree murder in connection to the 1985 killing of Terry Dolowy, a college student. Dolowy, who was 24 years old at the time, tragically went missing from her Barre Mills home on February 14, 1985. Her decapitated body was discovered days later in a burning state in a roadside culvert located in Vernon County. The accused, Popp, currently remains in custody at the Vernon County Jail with a bail set at $1 million in cash.
According to authorities, Popp, who is now 60, was found to have a connection to Dolowy, a senior at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and a native of River Forest, Illinois. Reportedly, at the time of the murder, Popp lived in close proximity to Dolowy and her fiancé in La Crosse County. Prosecutors have mentioned that DNA evidence collected from Popp in January 2023 was a match to material retrieved during Dolowy’s autopsy.
Details revealed in a criminal complaint state that Popp initially downplayed his relationship with Dolowy, describing it as a casual acquaintance. However, upon being confronted with the DNA evidence in March 2023, Popp altered his narrative and admitted to potentially having had a brief affair with Dolowy for a period of six to eight months. He justified his initial denial by expressing reluctance to be involved in a serious case of this nature. Popp has consistently denied any involvement in Dolowy’s death, asserting to authorities that he is not a violent individual.
As of Wednesday morning, the Vernon County Clerk’s Office confirmed that Popp had not yet secured legal representation. The case has garnered significant attention due to its decades-long cold status finally seeing progress with the recent arrest and charges brought against Popp. The community and the loved ones of Terry Dolowy are hoping for answers and justice to be served in this tragic case that has haunted them for nearly four decades.