Michael Popp Charged in 1985 Dolowy Homicide

Michael Raymond Popp, 60, has been charged with the 1985 murder of Terry Dolowy, a 24-year-old UW-La Crosse senior, whose decapitated and burning body was found days after she went missing. Popp is being held on $1 million cash bail and faces life imprisonment if convicted. DNA evidence collected in January 2023 matched samples from Dolowy's autopsy, leading to Popp's arrest. While Popp initially claimed Dolowy was a casual acquaintance, he later admitted to a possible affair after being confronted with the DNA evidence. Law enforcement officials from multiple counties held a press conference to announce the arrest, expressing gratitude for the persistent efforts in solving the case. The investigation had seen numerous interviews and a false confession before identifying Popp as the suspect.