WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — Police said they found the body of a missing boater in the Wisconsin River around noon Friday. The search for a second missing boater is ongoing. 


What You Need To Know

  • Two boaters were reported missing near the Wisconsin Dells after their boat capsized in the Wisconsin River, according to the Wisconsin Dells Police Department

  • Police said they found the body of a missing boater in the Wisconsin River around noon Friday. The deceased person was publicly identified on Saturday as Luis F. Di Filippo, 75. Di Filippo was from Chicago

  • The second boater has not been found as of Monday at 11:15 a.m., according to police. Search efforts are still underway

  • Police identified the second boater as Francesco L. Di Filippo, 20, He is also from Chicago

Two boaters were reported missing near the Wisconsin Dells after their boat capsized in the Wisconsin River, according to the Wisconsin Dells Police Department.

The second boater has not been found as of Monday at 11:15 a.m., according to police. Search efforts began Thursday. 

Police said that at around 4:24 p.m. Thursday, they received reports of the capsized boat with three people in it south of the Kilbourn Dam.

One of the individuals in the boat swam to shore safely and was evaluated and treated by EMS. The two other boaters were not seen after they disappeared in the water near the boat.

Police said there were multiple rescue boats that were deployed to search for those two boaters. They also received help from Columbia County and Sauk County Dive Teams, but were unable to dive given the fast-moving currents and unsafe conditions. 

Police said they also utilized boats with sonar capabilities, aerial drones, shoreline searches and underwater drones. Overnight Thursday into Friday, the search was suspended due to the dark and unpredictable river flow. Police said search efforts resumed Friday morning.

On Friday, around noon, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) aircraft that was working as part of the search for the two missing people "located a submerged item of interest." A search boat was deployed to the area. One of the missing boaters was found. They were submerged and deceased, Wisconsin Dells Police said. 

The deceased person was publicly identified on Saturday as Luis F. Di Filippo, 75. Di Filippo was from Chicago. 

The search for the second missing person is ongoing. Police identified him as Francesco L. Di Filippo, 20, He is also from Chicago. 

Police said river flow and currents have continued to be challenging. Search efforts over the weekend included a span of 18 miles of shoreline by boat from the Kilbourn Dam, south on the river to the west end of the Pine Island State Natural Area. Searches are also being conducted on foot. 

Police said water levels have been "extremely high." However, officials expect it to decrease in the coming days, which could help with search conditions. Searches are currently being conducted on foot along the river and via aerial drones. 

"Until the water reaches a manageable level, we will not be able to deploy divers or underwater drones to check areas of interest. Until then, we will continue with shoreline searches in accessible areas," Nicholas Brinker, police chief of the Wisconisn Dells Police Department, said. 

Police asked if anyone near or on the Wisconsin River sees anything suspicious to contact the Wisconsin Dells Police Department at 608-253-1611; press "2" to be connected to the Columbia County Dispatch Center.