Gandolph

Sun, Aug 11, 2013 : 4:04 a.m.

Perhaps the focus on fundraising should be on offering a significant reward to advance in finding something that will lead to finding who did this most heinous crime to a most gifted and giving young man rather than the most imminent thought being to save the "home". If this home had had security in the first place perhaps we all would not have to be having these discussions. I just read how the FBI was able to find and solve the kidnapping and murders in San Diego, since Mr. DeWolf was a man who represented our federal government through his military enlistment perhaps the Ann Arbor police could seek their assistance since there seems to be no progress in solving this awful tragedy.

Wondering

Sun, Aug 11, 2013 : 12:30 a.m.

@ michwolf - It might be enlightening to know more about the administrative structure of the fraternity. Since there are only four houses in the country, one might guess that the administrative structure may be quite loose and administrative oversight--including financial/legal/ethical/etc--may be minimal to non-existent.

michwolf

Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 8:45 p.m.

If a college student was found dead in a college fraternity, and there was a plea for a $100,000 fundraiser, there would be complete public outrage. Now since this is a medical fraternity, somehow everyone looks over the *possibility* (even if slim) that high-achieving, moral medical students and a medical fraternity could possibly have something to do with this heinous crime. A housemate would know when would be the best time to kill, their fingerprints would be expected at the scene, even if they were seen walking in or out, it would not be unexpected, and they know he lives in the basement and gunshots may not be heard. Anyone could be a suspect and they are not excluded. According to their website this home was built for $65000 and likely payed off its mortgage long ago, and is now generating ~ $200000 of yearly rental income. Surely there is some savings in their account from their many years of collecting rent in this home. So what that your house goes half full the year there was a *murder* in the home! Certainly, you can afford to run at half capacity for one year! Instead of jumping on the opportunity to milk the public for money to benefit your fraternity (which again would outrage many if this was a college fraternity), why dont you fundraise for finding the culprit or for a good, humanitarian cause Paul was passionate about. This fraternity and/or its members thinks it's ok to start a fundraiser , to NOT benefit the family, NOT benefit the finding of the culprit (ie reward money), but instead to add to the pockets of this for profit fraternity. That's right, as they reminded you, your donations are not tax deductible. Appalling!

Wondering

Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.

@ black_squirrel -- Very much agreed that the urgency of the fundraising appeal for the fraternity--which seems to many of us in such poor taste re choosing at this very sad time to focus on the financial needs of the fraternity rather than on ways to support the criminal investigation--does make one wonder whether there may have been some sort of serious financial issue prior to this tragedy that seems to require such inappropriate timing....

black_squirrel

Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 2:14 a.m.

Is Peter Wu the president of the fraternity? On the fraternity's website he is not listed as such, but thatsite may be outdated.

michwolf

Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 2:02 a.m.

The most likely person to know when to walk into the home when nobody else is home and when Paul Dewolf is, and knows which medical students went away for summer research/boards studying, and who remains, and what their respective schedules are, and when the cook leaves, is somebody that lives in the house. Obviously it could be anyone and I am not pointing any figures. But let's just say I am not supporting your fundraiser. Instead can we have a fundraiser to raise that pathetic reward offer?

lucinda walsh

Sat, Aug 10, 2013 : 12:53 a.m.

In answer to my own question, it turns out Kyle published the facts as he knew them. The facts were that the ugly plea for $ was on the Facebook page of Wu himself. This matter should be handled by the chair of the board of directors of the fraternity with the assistance of a lawyer and PR professional, if needed. These matters of violent death and money are not something that should be handled by an amateur. If anyone with any sense were in charge that public plea for $ would be taken down for starters.

michwolf

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 10:38 p.m.

They jumped on the money grab opportunity and it's nauseating. They sent an email to alumni of the fraternity rather quickly ceasing the opportunity to make additional money for a house that for all we know could be harboring the murderer. They emailed in the middle of the investigation which was in poor taste. The murderer could be anywhere, and certainly, a fraternity member that may know the whereabouts of all its members and all their schedules at most times is also a suspect. If I lived in the house, I would move out so I am certainly not going to support a home that could be harboring the very person responsible for this tragedy until I know more.

Kyle Feldscher

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 7:39 p.m.

I've updated Peter Wu's remarks to me this afternoon with more up-to-date information regarding what will be done with the fundraising website.

jrigglem

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 4:36 p.m.

Seems to be a money grab. And this is insulting: "Paul had nothing but respect for Phi Rho and its members and he would never want to be the catalyst that brought about its end. "

lucinda walsh

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.

I still maintain someone did sloppy work. Was it the newspaper or the fraternity? Whichever, it was insulting beyond belief and on the day of the UM memorial!

Kyle Feldscher

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 4:02 p.m.

For more information on the memorial service tonight, contact the U-M medical school.

lucinda walsh

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 3:35 p.m.

The frat only has 4 houses nationally, so there are no deep pockets with the national organization. It would be the responsibility of the board of directors to immediately release the sad news about the tragic loss of a brother. Then, in a SEPARATE release to alums they should have just stated the financial facts and the options. By uniting the death and the money they have insulted just about everyone except the murderer. National frats deal with "circumstances" all the time and most would have good lawyers wordcraft the heck out of this situation to show both respect for the brother and due diligence financially. This was just sloppy work.

trespass

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 3:33 p.m.

It is getting really hard to predict what comments they will censor. Let me try again. I was just suggesting that medical students are not irrational. I suggest Kyle talk to some of the people who have moved out and find out why.

Ypsi Russell

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 3:30 p.m.

Maybe the fraternity could require residents to sign some sort of lease contract, so they couldn't just bolt at will.

Paul

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.

Sad, they are going to raise more cash to save their fraternity, then the reward is to find the killer. Lets have a $100,000 reward to solve this death.

Billy

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.

""This includes operating costs and necessary improvements to security and infrastructure that have become critical to house integrity."" So really there's an ADDED expense of a major security system on top of losing revenue. That pretty much sucks...like getting kicked while you're down.

black_squirrel

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 1:26 p.m.

The earliest reference to the fundraising I found is August 2, no more than 9 days after DeWolf was found dead. In my opinion, too early. In the last 24 hours, the amount $9655 has not changed. So the fundraising had only a lukewarm response so far. Perhaps, the fundraising is not endorsed by all (remaining) residents. The math seems correct. If 10 residents are moving out, paying about $10,000/year, then we get a shortfall of $100,000. However, could one not find other students willing to live in a beautiful building right next to the medical campus? The urgency of the plea for donations makes you wonder whether the fraternity was already in a dire financial situation before DeWolf's death.

johnnya2

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:58 p.m.

This is utter stupidity. WHERE he lived is not the cause of his murder. Based on every report this was NOT a robbery. This was an execution style killing. Somebody wanted Mr DeWolf dead and succeeded. It could have happened just about anywhere.

nickcarraweigh

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:52 p.m.

That projected loss is almost half the fraternity's student-paid income at full capacity, which may say something about the number who have moved since the murder. But these are medical students, not social workers, and the fraternity has been in business for some time. Surely alums will kick in, once they learn of the crisis and make arrangements through their brokers, which we all know can be so darned time-consuming in the August dogdays

A2truth

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.

Opinion: the second biggest tragedy here (after the obvious tragic loss of this good mans life) is the complete ineptitude displayed on the part of the local news media coving this story.

Rob MI

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:31 p.m.

"This includes operating costs and necessary improvements to security and infrastructure that have become critical to house integrity." Why weren't these improvements already in place? An organization like this is considered to be, by me at least, not like your typical Ann Arbor slumlord that collects as much money as they can while only doing what is minimally necessary to physically maintain the property. Or is it?

SqueegeeBeckenheim

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 12:15 p.m.

I'm sorry for the loss of this student's life, and I feel bad for the other students who lived in that house and now fear for their safety, but this seems a little ridiculous. That this frat house is losing money because people are moving out because SOMEONE WAS MURDERED THERE is NOT a tragedy! The tragedy is that this person was killed; perhaps at the very least, the frat organization could have waited a bit before sticking their hand out and crying that they're suffering too! And certainly alumni, the fraternity and the university at large could step in and do something if they don't want to see this frat go. But asking the public for money and preying on people's fears and emotions before we even really know what happened seems...sketchy.

a2cents

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 11:59 a.m.

market forces at work, do not interfere

Hi, Hello

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 11:55 a.m.

thank you for the updates, please stay with this story until the person responsible is in jail

tom swift jr.

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 11:22 a.m.

This was a tragic event, but it is not the business of a public university to provide (from the website) "At ~$720/m for a private room, all utilities and amenities, and unlimited food you can't get a better deal in Ann Arbor. We have a parking lot [parking not guaranteed for M1s, but street parking passes are available], a chef, maid service, a gym, high-speed internet, free laundry, HDTV w/ DVR, a library of textbooks, and more!" Not to mention the .25 cent beer touted on the website, the exercise room, billiard room, etc. If they want to raise funds to get the general public to pay for their housing while they acquire a med degree, best of luck to them, but they may find it a rough way to finance their time at the University.

Alum

Fri, Aug 9, 2013 : 10:25 a.m.

The UofM should step in for the school to help out in this situation. Although this is private housing, UM has the funds to make sure this institution remains viable. After all, the Med students probably pay the most tuition of all the professional schools.