Remains found are missing Allouez woman

BROWN COUNTY - It has taken more than five years but there are finally some answers for Sarah Griffiths and others at St. Norbert College.

"Closure might be kind of a cliché, but for me, I can start to digest," said Griffiths, who is the Director of International Student & Scholar Services at St. Norbert.

Investigators identified remains found in Southern Brown County as Areerat Chuprevich, who was better known as "Kae" to students and staff at St. Norbert, where she had been taking English as a Second Language courses after moving from Thailand.

"She was very motivated, had a very sweet disposition, very kind," said Griffiths.

Griffiths was Chuprevich's academic advisor, before the Allouez woman disappeared in April 2003.

Medical Examiners identified Chuprevich by dental records and determined she died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Authorities suspect Karl McLeod in the case, who police say hanged himself in 2006 while in prison for a separate assault case. McLeod was related to Chuprevich through marriage.

"A very close family. He had been to her apartment and she had been to Mr. McLeod's farm," said Jeff Sanborn with the Brown County Sheriff's Department.

Chuprevich's vehicle was found at St. Michael's Pub in Allouez, less than a mile from the Mariner Motel where she was living with her husband, Dr. Tom Chuprevich.

FOX 11 spoke with Dr. Chuprevich on the phone. He did not want to talk about the case or his wife. Investigators say they informed him of their findings on Tuesday and he was in the process of notifying family from Green Bay to Thailand.
As for "Kae's" St. Norbert family, any answers, evening disturbing ones, have been long waited.

"We will remember her and pay tribute to what a caring and lovely person she was," said Griffiths.

Investigators are still looking for help in this case. If you have any information tying Karl Mcleod or Areerat Chuprevich to Southern Brown County where her remains were found, please call the Brown County Sheriff's Department at (920) 448-4226.