MONROE — The holidays came and went for family and friends of Melissa Trumpy of Monticello, with no sign of the missing 37-year-old mother of three and little apparent progress on the investigation into her disappearance on Oct. 26.
Meanwhile, her longtime boyfriend Derek Hammer remains in Stephenson County Jail on various felony drug charges but seemingly isn’t talking to police about Trumpy’s whereabouts. He was allegedly among the last people to see Trumpy alive.
Authorities in both Illinois, Wisconsin and the FBI are reportedly working the case, which has shaken friends and relatives and left Trumpy’s children in despair.
“It’s just awful for them” (the children), said Ben Affrunti, Trumpy’s former boyfriend and father of her two youngest children. Affrunti added that Melissa’s children are inundated with questions and rumors from school, friends and others in the community about their mother.
Trumpy’s abandoned vehicle was found in Stephenson County just a day after her disappearance. The case is a complex one — with felony criminal charges also pending against both Hammer and Trumpy. Still, police aren’t saying much about the nature of those cases, whether they are connected to her disappearance; or anything else.
“They really aren’t relating any of the vital details,” said Affrunti. “It’s very frustrating for all of us.”
Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud said his detectives have continued meeting with not only family members but with their law enforcement counterparts in Illinois; and remain “ready and eager to provide any assistance that Illinois requests and to investigate any new leads that come to our agency.”
Deputies have physically searched a number of properties for the missing woman. Further, a search warrant was executed at her rural Monticello home.
“Our case remains classified as a missing persons case and is open,” said Skatrud.
Search warrants and subpoenas have been requested for telephone, social media and financial records in an effort to find any activity that could give clues to her current location.
In late November, Green County District Attorney Craig Nolen stated that although Trumpy is a defendant in a pending case, she is presumed innocent. Nolen said his office has worked “alongside the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Stephenson County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Wisconsin DCI, Illinois State Police, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Stephenson County Sheriff’s Office, MOCIC, and federal law enforcement partners to bring Melissa Trumpy home. My office has issued more than a half dozen warrants and subpoenas relating to her disappearance and contacts preceding her disappearance. We will not cease working until she is located.”
Nolen said that while Hammer appeared by video link from Stephenson County on Dec. 21 another warrant was issued for his arrest at that time. It would cost Hammer $2,500 to be released from Stephenson County Jail before he could be brought to Wisconsin to faces charges here.
“Hopefully we can locate Melissa,” said Nolen. “It’s just heartbreaking for everyone involved.”
Trumpy is a white female, about 5-foot-10 and weighing about 160 pounds. She has blue eyes, long blonde hair and a number of facial piercings and apparent tattoos.
Those with tips or relevant information are urged to contact the Carroll County (Ill.) Sheriff’s office at 815-244-7867. Green County authorities can be reached at 608-328-9401.