WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. — Authorities have recovered the body of a Chicago man who had been missing for weeks following a tragic boating accident on the Wisconsin River. The body, found around 2:13 p.m. near Newport Beach, was confirmed to be 20-year-old Francesco L. Di Filippo, according to the Lake Delton Police and Fire Departments.
This recovery follows the earlier identification in April of 75-year-old Luis F. Di Filippo—also from Chicago—as the first of two missing boaters involved in the incident. Both men were part of a group of three whose boat capsized south of the Kilbourn Dam, roughly an hour north of Madison.
Officials say one person was able to swim to shore safely and was promptly assisted by emergency responders and transported for medical evaluation. The other two occupants vanished beneath the water and had not been seen since.
Local and regional agencies launched an extensive search operation in April that included aerial drones, sonar-equipped boats, underwater technology, and shoreline teams. The search continued for weeks with the goal of locating the missing men and bringing closure to their families.
“The Wisconsin Dells Police Department sends its heartfelt condolences to the Di Filippo and Schultz family,” the department said in a statement. “Though this is a heartbreaking outcome, we hope the discovery of Francesco brings some measure of peace to the loved ones grieving this loss.”
The boating accident and ensuing search effort have drawn attention across the region, highlighting the dangers of river travel and the importance of water safety. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances that led to the capsizing, and the investigation remains ongoing.