39 years after La Crosse woman’s headless body found on fire, suspect has been arrested

Nearly 40 years after a 24-year-old La Crosse woman’s headless body was found on fire in a ditch, an area man has been arrested for her murder.

Monroe County district attorney Kevin Chroninger announced Tuesday the arrest of 60-year-old Michael R. Popp of Tomah for the 1985 murder of Terry Dolowy.

Popp’s name was released during a news conference, outside the Vernon County courthouse in Viroqua. Popp appeared in court later that day.

Popp was a friend of Dolowy, who was killed and decapitated in early 1985.

Chroninger said advances in technology over the years allowed scientists to find Popp’s DNA in or on Dolowy’s body.

A criminal complaint indicates DNA from semen was traced to Popp, who denies that he was in a relationship with Dolowy.

The DA sought a $2 million cash bond for Popp at Tuesday’s court hearing. Vernon County Judge Timothy Gaskell set the bond at $1 million.

Popp is a truck driver, who lives in Monroe County. He was arrested this week. Dolowy was a UW-La Crosse student at the time of her death. She was reported missing, and days later her headless, burning body was found in a ditch.

Gaskell has recused himself because he had worked on the case as a Vernon County prosecutor. No new court date is scheduled.

Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson thanked other law enforcement leaders in the area for their work on the Dolowy case. Torgerson especially thanked La Crosse County for continuing to investigate the murder for 39 years.