Media Release: Death Investigation Update

March 05, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
OSHKOSH POLICE DEPARTMENT

Date:          03/05/2026
Time:          04:00 PM
Contact:     Officer Kate Mann
                  Public Affairs/ Crime Prevention Officer
                  (920) 236-5742
Subject:      Death Investigation Update

The Oshkosh Police Department continues to actively investigate the death of Frederick Ellis. An autopsy was conducted by the Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner’s Office today, March 5, 2026. The final autopsy and toxicology reports are pending; however, preliminary autopsy results indicate there were no injuries observed.

The last known confirmed contact with Mr. Ellis occurred on October 25, 2025. The Oshkosh Police Department initially reported that Mr. Ellis was homeless; however, he resided with family in the City of Oshkosh and was known to leave for short periods of time before returning home. Since then, the Oshkosh Police Department has received and investigated several citizen reports of possible sightings of Mr. Ellis at various locations throughout the city; however, none of those sightings have been confirmed. During the course of the investigation Officers and detectives conducted ground searches at numerous locations and deployed the Oshkosh Police Department’s drone in an effort to locate Mr. Ellis.

The Oshkosh Police Department asks that anyone who had contact with Mr. Ellis after October 25, 2025, and has not yet spoken with police, please contact Detective Mentink at (920) 236-5267.

Additional updates will be provided as they become available.

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