Phi Rho Sigma members are asking the community not to donate through a fundraising website set up after Paul DeWolf's death prompted some members to move out. They said the financial crisis has passed.
Melanie Maxwell | AnnArbor.com
Editor's note: This article has been updated with information from the fraternity president this morning, who stated the fraternity is not seeking money from outside donors.
The president of the Phi Rho Sigma fraternity at the University of Michigan said Friday the house is once again mostly full after some residents moved out soon after a medical student was killed there.
Peter Wu said an online fundraiser was not meant to be public and was only for family, friends and members of the medical school community. The fundraiser was set up after U-M medical student Paul DeWolf was found dead in the house on July 24, a case that’s been ruled a homicide.
The fundraiser set up on on the website Piryx was trying to raise $100,000 to cover the costs of lost residents. According to a statement on the website, Phi Rho Sigma expected to lose half of its residents.
But Friday, although Wu said people did move out of the house, many of the open spots have been filled.
“With regards to our house, the information posted in the previous story was inaccurate and outdated,” he said, “because the situation at the house has been moving very quickly because of the great efforts from individuals in the house that have been successful in saving the house from financial distress.”
He added,” The house is no longer in financial need and we ask no one donate on the fundraising link. Friends of Phi Rho Sigma, family and the medical school community have given generously to cover any remaining needs.”
DeWolf was found dead July 24 from a single gunshot wound to the neck in his basement room at Phi Rho Sigma, 220 N. Ingalls St. in Ann Arbor. His death was ruled a homicide by the Washtenaw County Medical Examiner’s Office following an autopsy on July 25.
Detective Lt. Robert Pfannes said Thursday there was no new information for police to release at this time.
The Ann Arbor Police Department and the University of Michigan Police Department are each offering $5,000 for tips that lead to an arrest and conviction of a suspect in the case. To this point, no information about a potential suspect has been released.
DeWolf was entering his fourth year at the medical school and lived at the Phi Rho Sigma, 220 N. Ingalls St., for his entire time at the school. He graduated from Grand Valley State University in 2010.
U-M homicide investigation continues
Police continue to investigate the death of Paul DeWolf
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- UPDATED: U-M student found dead in off-campus apartment was 'a talented medical student'
- University of Michigan medical student's death investigated as homicide
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- Cause of death unknown for man found in Ann Arbor home
The fundraising website stated more than half of the members of the house had moved out and Phi Rho Sigma was facing a “financial crisis.”
The home can house 26 students.
Wu thanked the Ann Arbor community for the support Phi Rho Sigma has received since DeWolf’s death.
“Phi Rho Sigma deeply appreciates the outpouring of support from the community, both university and in Ann Arbor,” he said. It has been very uplifting through these trying times.”
Here is Wu’s full statement to AnnArbor.com:
“Phi Rho Sigma deeply appreciates the outpouring of support from the community, both university and in Ann Arbor. It has been very uplifting through these trying times. With regards to our house, information posted in the previous story was inaccurate and outdated because the situation at the house has been moving very quickly because of the great efforts from individuals in the house that have been successful in saving the house from financial distress. The house is no longer in financial need and we ask no one donate on the fundraising link. Friends of Phi Rho, family and the medical school community have given generously to cover any remaining needs, for which the fundraiser was intended. We continue to appreciate the great outpouring of support from the community.”
A memorial service for DeWolf will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at the Biomedical Research Building, 109 Zina Pitcher Place.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.