Monroe County man is charged with 1985 murder of La Crosse woman Terry Dolowy

Nearly 40 years after a 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 the arrest of 60-year-old Michael R. Popp of Tomah for the 1985 murder of 24-year-old Terry Dolowy. Popp’s name was released during a news conference on Tuesday, outside the Vernon County courthouse in Viroqua, and he appeared in court later in the afternoon.

Michael Popp was a friend of Dolowy, who was killed and decapitated in early 1985. Chroninger says 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 had sought a $2 million cash bond for Popp at a court hearing on Tuesday. Judge Timothy Gaskell set the bond at $1 million.

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.

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

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