DUBUQUE, IA – A tragic series of events unfolded in Dubuque County, Iowa, as local law enforcement responded to a distress call Wednesday evening. Upon arrival at a residence on Haxbylane Road, officers discovered the lifeless body of a woman, later identified as 32-year-old Tana Poppe.
The death of Poppe, a mother of two, was not deemed accidental. Investigators have classified it as a result of foul play. At the time of her death, Poppe was living with her two children, a 5-month-old infant and a 13-year-old teenager. However, the children were not at the residence when authorities arrived.
In a shocking twist, Iowa authorities later discovered that Poppe’s infant had been left at an unrelated residence in Wisconsin. The whereabouts of her 13-year-old child remained a mystery until a car chase in Dane County, Wisconsin brought the situation into focus.
During the pursuit, the vehicle was disabled, and the occupants attempted to flee on foot. One of these individuals was identified as the missing 13-year-old. In a heartbreaking development, the teenager was later found deceased.
The person of interest in this case, 38-year-old Alexander Grunke, was found dead inside a home in Albion, Wisconsin. His death was ruled a suicide. Court records revealed that Grunke had previously been charged with abduction and interference with child custody in March.