The Oshkosh Police Department found a dead body March 3 in the drainage area south of the southbound on-ramp of Interstate-41 and W. 9th Ave. 

An investigation led the police to discover the body was Frederick Ellis, an African American male that was reported missing by family Jan. 10. When Ellis was reported missing, the family claimed they hadn’t heard from him since October 2025 and were concerned due to mental health issues.

A final autopsy and toxicology results from the Fond Du Lac Medical Examiner’s Office are pending, but preliminary autopsy results told OPD that Ellis didn’t suffer any injuries at death. 

Ellis’s last confirmed contact was Oct. 25, 2025, while OPD visited various locations across Oshkosh and used their drone in an effort to locate Ellis from the time of his disappearance to his death. OPD asks that anyone who’s interacted with Ellis after Oct. 25, 2025, and hasn’t spoken with authorities yet, to contact Detective Tyler Mentink at 920-236-5267. Additional updates will be provided on the OPD facebook page as details emerge from the investigation.