You are viewing this article in the AnnArbor.com archives. For the latest breaking news and updates in Ann Arbor and the surrounding area, see MLive.com/ann-arbor
Posted on Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 7:35 a.m.

Police release photo of potential witness in U-M medical student's death

By Kyle Feldscher

potentialwitnessdewolf.jpg

Ann Arbor police are trying to get in touch with this man, a potential witness in the Paul DeWolf investigation.

Courtesy of AAPD

Previous coverage:

Ann Arbor police want to speak to a potential witness spotted in the area of North Ingalls Street on July 23, the same night Paul DeWolf was killed in his home.

Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Robert Pfannes said the man was near DeWolf’s home in the Phi Rho Sigma medical fraternity in the 200 block of North Ingalls Street on July 23. DeWolf was found dead in his basement room at the fraternity just before 11:30 a.m. July 24 by a colleague.

Pfannes said the man is a potential witness and police are encouraging him to contact investigators. Anyone who might know the man is asked to call police to help identify him.

"This person is only a potential witness," Pfannes said in a statement.

The photo was taken from security camera footage from a building in the area of North Ingalls Street. It’s unknown if DeWolf’s home had security cameras.

Detectives are investigating DeWolf’s death as a homicide. An autopsy showed he was killed by a single gunshot wound. His apartment was orderly and nothing of value appeared to be stolen.

Thumbnail image for DeWolf_Psm.jpg

Paul DeWolf

DeWolf was a prospective surgeon entering his fourth year at the University of Michigan medical school. He was a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was a reservist. He was set to enter the service following his graduation from medical school in May.

DeWolf was working a general surgery rotation at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, classmates said. When he didn’t show up for a scheduled assignment on the morning of July 24, a colleague was sent to check on him.

That colleague discovered DeWolf dead in his room and then called 911. The next day, police said they were investigating the case as a homicide.

On Tuesday, Ann Arbor police announced investigators from the Air Force and University of Michigan Police Department will be assisting AAPD detectives. U-M police and Ann Arbor police have increased patrols in the North Ingalls Street area since DeWolf’s death.

Anyone with information on the case, or about the man in the photo, is encouraged to call the Ann Arbor police anonymous tip line at 734-794-6939 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK UP (773-2587).

Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.

Comments

MichU

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 10:58 p.m.

So now that he is no longer a "potential witness," is there a reason that you continue showing this man's photo?

kittybkahn

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 7:36 p.m.

The potential witness has come forward: http://www.annarbor.com/news/crime/u-m-student-homicide-police-interviewing-potential-witness/

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 7:34 p.m.

The Detroit News is reporting the guy has come forward and contacted police.

A2centsworth

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 6:01 p.m.

several respondents to the article indicate they feel as if they "know" the guy from the security cam footage in the article above, but can't place him. I think it is because he looks like Harry Potter... I am also sure that law enforcement are not giving out much information as it is an ongoing investigation. People speculating and blaming the reporter for lack of info, must realize that in cases such as these, information leaked can negatively affect the case outcome.

seldon

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 5:28 p.m.

Is it permissible to make the observation that the person in the picture bears a strong resemblance to the actor Daniel Radcliffe?

Tim Hornton

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4:53 p.m.

This footage is from Hospital Security which in my opinion is way better and more helpful then UM Police will be on this case. Leave the investigation to the Air Force and AA PD. Murder cases are above campus detectives and this takes away UM Police's main job of serving the student body like picking them up for rides, crowd traffic contol at games, and being a general observance deteriant to crime. Campus Police must let tested cops handle this. I don't mean that to be disrespectful but we have a murderer out there and we want qualified men and women doing this work. Maybe the Sheriff Dept. Could come help?

Joe Kidd

Fri, Aug 2, 2013 : 8:45 p.m.

"I'm just saying there are never really and murders on UM campus..." Read this: http://www.ns.umich.edu/new/releases/1675-student-stabbed-killed-on-north-campus-alleged-assailant-also-dead

Bear

Fri, Aug 2, 2013 : 4:20 a.m.

^Tim Horton^ It's obvious that you don't know much about how U of M police force is set up or what their training and qualifications are. Ignorance is a terrible thing.

Tim Hornton

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 6:47 p.m.

Inspector McNulty, I have watched a lot of Law and Order shows to know major crime is not on college campuses and know a thing or 2 about investigation. I also have seen a lot in my day as an assistant shift supervisor at Starbucks too. I have given many free cups of coffee to all types of cops and would not discriminate between campus and city police. I'm just saying there are never really any murders on UM campus so let's leave most of the dirty work to Air Force and AAPD. I appreciate your service to the Leaders and the Best and the students you helped protect.

Kevin McNulty

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 6:15 p.m.

Mr. Hornton, I do not know what your level of association is with UMPD, but I presume it is minimal. I was a detective with UM for over ten years, did 28 years total there and I can assure you they have very competent officers in that department, especially in the detective bureau. I find your comment that starts with, "Murder cases are above campus detectives and this takes away UM Polices main job of serving the student body..." extremely disrespectful. During my time there we handled murders, suspicious deaths and all manner of offenses and currently I have no doubt of the ability of UMPD to properly investigate any crime committed on campus. You seem to think that investigating a murder requires a higher level of expertise than investigating any serious offense and I wonder what your experience is to make such a comment. I also have extremely high regard for AAPD. They have always had excellent detectives that were great to work with. Most of those I knew well have retired, but the tradition in the AAPD DB is sufficient to me that they will handle this as well as anyone. They obviously will need assistance from the AF and UM for records, associate information, emails etc., so the connections are obvious. AAPD will be able to solve this case as well as any agency.

BhavanaJagat

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4:20 p.m.

I am glad to note that there is some progress in this investigation and that a photo has been released for verification. The photo could be showing a person at the North Ingalls Parking garage that is often used by people at the Business School. The suspect may throw away the gun, but may not run away from the town. I am sure that more information would be released as the Police search for specific individuals who have the opportunity to be in that area on Tuesday night, prior to the discovery made on Wednesday morning.

FreedomSpeech

Fri, Aug 2, 2013 : 7:55 a.m.

Sorry A2runner... it was whole before??? Go to http://www.infowars.com/search-page/ Check "This Site" (maybe the default?) for the STARTPAGE Search and search: Air Force Just those 2 words and when you get through... say... page 30 of the results... you tell me...

BhavanaJagat

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.

@FreedomSpeech: Thanks for that correction. It is a parking structure, and I am not correct about its association with the Business School.

a2runner01

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 5:06 p.m.

FreedomSpeech - What's the link about that you posted? It doesn't go anywhere... is it incomplete? "they are involved in"... who is "they"?

FreedomSpeech

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4:50 p.m.

"North Ingalls Parking garage that is often used by people at the Business School." Really? That's interesting since the Ross School of Business is not near N. Ingalls. St. It's on Tappan on the other side of campus. The thing that jumps out at me, and knowing a bit about the plethora of shady things they are involved in, including this investagation, is: https://s4-us4.startpage.com/do/search?cmd=process_search&pid=8d01f02327a08f7bb480683b84b57cd6 Scroll and learn... maybe not but maybe so...

Zhuk

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4:14 p.m.

Great... if this was a murder, the theoretical killer knows what a potential witness (Male or possibly female.. or maybe Emo with a shag haircut) looks like. I hope we don't end up having to read another series of articles about this witness becoming another victim.

GoNavy

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:51 p.m.

I know that guy - not sure from where though, but he looks really familiar. I'll definitely keep my eyes open...I suspect that he'll be making multiple appearances this summer right in front of our eyes.

Martha Cojelona Gratis

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4:15 p.m.

I know that guy - but not really.

Mick52

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:28 p.m.

I'm wondering why the exact location of the photo/security camera isn't in the article. That would help jog people's memories if they were there. Looks like a UM phone, so I agree with one post here that it could be the N Ingalls building or the parking garage on the other side of that building.

UloveM

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:02 p.m.

Unless the same finger prints or foot prints were found inside victim's room, it is nonsense.

Honest Abe

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:56 p.m.

Kyle: Has the autopsy report been released? Toxicology? Location of bullet wound? Do you know if the cops are leaning towards a random murder? Possible hit? Was anything missing from his house? Burglary/murder?

Honest Abe

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 11:46 p.m.

Mick- I could give examples. But since you asked that question, you probably would not understand the answer. Next!

Mick52

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 5:48 p.m.

Abe, I have no problem with releasing pertinent information is it could lead to assistance in solving the case, like releasing this photo. I can think of no information in an autopsy report that could help to protect the public. Do you have any examples?

Honest Abe

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:47 p.m.

@Tru and Mick52: You know what? When you got a large University with 10's of thousands of students and one of them gets murdered, sometimes you may have to release certain things to protect the public. Wanna know something else? Those details the Police release, just might make there investigation harder. Nobody wants that! But it may involve releasing a detail that you dont want to relase but it could be something that protects the public as well!!

Honest Abe

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.

Tru: Easy now.

Mick52

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:32 p.m.

I would not release it if it were my case. It's an open investigation and those details should not be released. You don't want a potential suspect to be able to say, " I read that in the news," on any detail only the suspect would know.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:20 p.m.

@Honest Abe: I'm sure police investigators are planning hand-delivery of all evidence in this case to you within hours. I'm even taking the day off from work in anticipation of your announcement of your arrest of the perpetrator. We're all counting on you now. :-)

Kyle Feldscher

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:05 p.m.

Abe- Tox report is being done as standard procedure, I've requested the autopsy report. The location of the wound has not been released yet. As far as motivation, I haven't got an answer from police yet. Anything I say would be speculation.

Honest Abe

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:51 p.m.

I have stared at the photo for 20 minutes! I still cannot tell the gender of the person in the photo.

Tru2Blu76

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:48 p.m.

RE: "The photo was taken from security camera footage ..." which indicates the video was viewed and the "photo" is actually a frame capture. Furthermore: the police have viewed the full video and they likely have a better idea of the gender of the subject in the frame capture. Literally, it's not helpful to speculate further on what the police might know at this point. At least consider this: anyone who knows what happened may be reading such speculations and could well react by taking steps to avoid police. The police don't want "public input" on forums like this one because it could make their job even more difficult. I'm not being critical of those commenting. I'm only pointing out that we all have a quite natural desire to see this case solved at the earliest time. We are all frustrated - but it turns out that's just an expression of our desire to see justice done quickly. Facing the fact that it's been over 8 days already should help us all understand how difficult and frustrating is must be for investigators and for those close to Mr. DeWolf. Our best wishes and prayers are all we have to contribute for now.

Bear

Fri, Aug 2, 2013 : 3:27 a.m.

thynkin, I don't think it was a break-in gone bad. Nothing was missing and his apartment was in an orderly condition. There was no mention of a possible break-in or burglary. In fact, they had ruled it out. A single gunshot wound. That sounds like intent, but who am I to say. Was it to the head or the heart? I don't think there's much chance of the killer going on a rampage. This seems to be an isolated incident. It may take awhile, but with the added resources of Air Force investigators, it may get solved sooner than you would think. Let's hope so, anyways.

Thynkin

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 5:45 p.m.

Respectfully, it is not just a desire to see justice done quickly. Another important reason to want more information is to figure out how to keep our students safe while the killer remains on the loose. There might be appropriate adjustments to personal security measures depending on what actually happened. In other words, a crime of passion by someone he knew is much less of a threat to everyone else as compared to a break in gone bad or someone wanting to randomly kill a medical student out of some form of psychopathology.

justcurious

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.

I'm guessing he is standing in the N. Ingalls Building (Old St. Joe Hospital) across the street to the north of where he was killed. That's a University Building. I'm also thinking the police would not want to release information on security cameras at the fraternity.

Arielle82

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4:22 p.m.

Yep, that's where it is.

TryingToBeObjective

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1 p.m.

How about encouraging the person in the photo to come or ward? He/she could potentially help the investigation. I'm sure others would hope someone would step up if it was their loved one who was killed.

Homeland Conspiracy

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:45 p.m.

Another reason why A2.com needs a edit button!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

justcurious

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.

They are doing that as far as I can tell. Are you meaning a reward?

Billy

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.

Ok so person is on their cellphone. Take the timestamp from the security footage, cross reference that with logs from all cell towers that would hit a phone in that area. You couldn't possibly have more than a 100 numbers or so to look through for all activity on those towers for those few seconds around the time the security photo was taken.

Bear

Fri, Aug 2, 2013 : 3:18 a.m.

Actually, each cell phone has a GPS function. GPS averages an error range of about 10 meters. So, if you get a warrant (who am I kidding?) and get records of phone locations at that time, showing people to be in that particular location, you might get someone's ID that way. I'm thinking it's a serious offense to have killed a military officer, especially one who they've invested so much time and training in. Not to sound callous or to forget that we have a human being who has been murdered.

a2citizen

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 5:37 p.m.

Look at your next cell phone bill. All of your phone calls are time stamped. There are not that many cell towers in downtown Ann Arbor. Remember the 8 year-old, Kyron Horman, that is missing in Washington state? Several days later the police traced the movement of the stepmom to a remote wooded area based on pinging records of cell phone towers. What is not available, after several days, is the pinging from tower to tower. That data on the disk generally gets overwritten after a few days. But the time stamps do exists. Billy is correct. I don't work for the NSA and my understanding is based on 20 years experience in the cell phone/telecommunications switching industry.

Jaime Magiera

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 4 p.m.

I've only seen the one with the geek girl that Mark Harmon always rolls his eyes at. NCIS? NCSI? I don't have cable, but it was on at a relatives house during the Holidays a few years back. Those shows are always disingenuous from a technical standpoint in one way or another.

Honest Abe

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.

Billy, 100!!?? Ann Arbor has over 100,000 people!! every other person in this town is on their phone at any given minute. I see where your coming from, but those things usually work on CSI.

Billy

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:57 p.m.

I don't watch "detective" shows. I've seen all of a couple episodes of CSI, NCSI, LA Law, Law & Order, etc.....any of those shows. I couldn't name a single character from one of them. I did use to watch the forensic shows on discovery channel though...back when it was only discovery channel. I don't have cable, and when I did I didn't watch it. I download the few shows I want to see. I absolutely can't stand commercials, or being "spoonfed" content. I just happened to see a solution to this problem and mentioned it. I will admit though...when I was a child, I watched Father Dowling, Murder She Wrote, and Colombo with my grandmother all the time.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.

or works for NSA in the basic communications engineering department and watches CSI reruns at night.

Homeland Conspiracy

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:44 p.m.

Or works for the NSA

Jaime Magiera

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:24 p.m.

Or is familiar with basic communications engineering.

ChrisW

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:15 p.m.

Somebody has been watching CSI.

Jaime Magiera

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:11 p.m.

It would be much more than 100, but overall, that's a good idea. Maybe we can get the NSA on this case ;)

JBK

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:55 p.m.

Kyle - This makes NO sense. You may want to change the wording. The murder happened before NOON, but your article states this witness was seen at NIGHT. Thoughts? Ann Arbor police want to speak to a potential witness spotted on North Ingalls Street on July 23, the same night Paul DeWolf was killed in his home. Ann Arbor police Detective Lt. Robert Pfannes said the man was near DeWolf's home in the Phi Rho Sigma medical fraternity in the 200 block of North Ingalls Street on July 23. DeWolf was found dead in his basement room at the fraternity just before 11:30 a.m. July 24 by a colleague.

IVote

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:49 p.m.

The medical examiner has probably been able to narrow down the time of death to a certain time frame the night before. Security cameras in the area were probably looked at for 24 hrs around time of murder, and then especially the estimated time of death. Just guessing?

Kyle Feldscher

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:11 p.m.

JBK - Thats the dispatch time when police were sent to the home. They haven't released an approximate time of death yet.

JBK

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.

Bee - Perhaps I missed it in one of the daily articles, BUT I did not remember the police listing an approximate time of death. If they did, I stand corrected.

ThaKillaBee

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.

It makes sense if you read the article. He was found at 11:30am, but presumably killed before then... like, for example, during the night.

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.

"It's unknown if DeWolf's home had security cameras." huh? unknown by whom? Ann Arbor.com? Surely the police know whether the home had (functioning) security cameras ?

Craig Lounsbury

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.

thanks for the response Kyle. The fact that you asked seems useful in the body of the story given the nature of the story.

Kyle Feldscher

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.

Craig - It's unknown by us. I can't tell if there are any by looking at the house and police would not say yes or no when I asked them if there were cameras at the home.

Jaime Magiera

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.

There's a missing open bracket "<" in the first href at the beginning of the article

Cindy Heflin

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 3:48 p.m.

James: I just saw your comment, but yes, we noticed that and fixed it earlier.

Jaime Magiera

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.

Thanks for fixing it. Broken HTML is like talking to someone who has something stuck in their teeth.

Lonnie

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:15 p.m.

Could be female...?

Ann English

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 11:39 p.m.

Looks like this person has facial hair, enough to be a clean-shaven man, all right.

Billy

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.

Well that is indeed an androgynous look. I would honestly believe that individual was female or male all depending on what I was told they were.

tdw

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:42 p.m.

Could be.Some times it can be hard to tell

tdw

Thu, Aug 1, 2013 : 12:14 p.m.

All jokes aside that's one of the best surveillance videos I've seen.I'm betting they will be talking to him soon