KAUKAUNA — A Kaukauna man is dead after having what police are calling a “medical episode” that happened after he was Tased and detained Saturday during a homicide investigation into his wife’s death.

Due to the in-custody circumstances of the man’s death, a Kaukauna officer and sheriff’s deputy have been placed on administrative leave, per agency policy. The Appleton Police Department has been called int to lead the use-of-force investigation.

Kaukauna released this new information Wednesday morning on the investigation.

The incident began when Kaukauna police and Outagamie County Sheriff’s deputies responded about 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 to the 100 block of West 13th Street for a welfare check.

When officers arrived and entered the house, the discovered the body of a 45-year-old woman who had substantial traumatic injuries and no signs of life, according to a news release from the Kaukauna Police Department.

The woman was later identified as Jessica VanSyoc who lives at the home.

While officers attempted to secure the scene, they located Jessica’s husband, Eric VanSyoc, in the same room as Jessica.

Police say Eric was exhibiting uncooperative and erratic behavior and while attempting to detain him, a Kaukauna Police Officer and an Outagamie County Sheriff’s Deputy both deployed their Tasers.

Once detained, Eric experienced a medical episode prompting officers and Kaukauna paramedics to render on-scene care.

He was then transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased at a local hospital.

No other information can be released, police said in their news release, and no concerns for neighborhood safety exist at this time.



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By Dan Plutchak

Dan Plutchak, born and raised in Kaukauna, is cofounder of Kaukauna Community News.