WAUSAU — The search for a 47-year-old Crandon man last seen on Monday has come to an end, according to a Wausau Police Department news release issued Friday afternoon.
Police say the body of Gregory Papernik was discovered at about 1:20 p.m. Friday by the Marathon County Sheriff’s Department dive team. The body was recovered near Big Bull Falls Park.
Papernik was reported missing after he failed to return to the Salvation Army in Wausau for an appointment. Monday afternoon, Wausau police received a report of personal belongings and a pet cat that had been sitting on park benches unattended for several hours. Officers found Papernik’s identification in the clothing and learned he was the cat owner.
There are no signs of foul play, police said. Though police believe Papernik drowned, an autopsy is expected this weekend to verify the cause of Papernik’s death.
Members of the Wausau Fire Department, WI DNR, Wausau Police Department, and the Dive Team assisted in the search efforts this week.
