WAUSAU — An autopsy performed on the 47-year-old Crandon man whose body was found last week in the Wisconsin River indicates the man likely died of an accidental drowning, according to the Wausau Police Department activity log.
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. On Oct. 2, 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 were no signs of foul play, police said, but an autopsy was performed Oct. 7 to determine how Papernik died. Police received those results on Monday.
Papernik is survived by three children, his mother, two sisters and a brother, according to his obituary.
