As of October 10th 2026, at least 72 lives have been lost to domestic and family violence in Wisconsin in 2026. Following our methodology, this count includes all deaths occurring within family or intimate partner relationships, including parent/child, sibling, in-law, and cohabitant cases, regardless of whether intimate partner violence was a factor. We also include unborn children lost to domestic violence and perpetrators who died by suicide in connection with a domestic violence incident, including a homicide they committed or attempted to commit.
January 4, 2026: Brian Johnson, Age 53, Milwaukee
Brian Johnson, 53, was shot and killed around 3:40 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2026, near 64th and Mill Road in Milwaukee. According to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, Johnson was in a physical altercation with his wife when her son shot him.
A suspect was taken into custody that day, and police said charges would be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney. No charging decision has been reported.
January 5, 2026: Gladys Johnson-Ball, Age 22, and her unborn child — Milwaukee
Gladys Johnson-Ball, a pregnant mother, was found unconscious on a mattress in a burning second-floor bedroom in a home near North 26th Street and West Hadley Street. She died of asphyxiation, along with her unborn child. Her boyfriend and the father of her 3-year-old child and unborn child, 21-year-old Cameron C. Washington, has been charged with two counts of first-degree reckless homicide and arson. Family members had become concerned when they hadn’t seen Johnson-Ball throughout the day; her mother said she’d been in her bedroom with Washington and their daughter all day. When family knocked on the door, Washington answered but refused to let them enter. He was asked to leave the house, retrieved a gun and aimed it at family members, but apparently did not know how to fire it. Her mother called police and then began smelling smoke and urged her family to evacuate.
January 5, 2026: Unnamed Man — Oshkosh.
An Oshkosh man, identified in court records only as “V1,” was shot twice in the head on January 5, 2026, in the basement of the townhouse he shared with his boyfriend after an argument over internet bills escalated into a physical fight. He was declared brain dead, and organ donation was completed January 9. The suspect walked into the Oshkosh police station, placed the gun on the counter, and said, “I just killed my boyfriend and he’s in the basement.”
The suspect was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and methamphetamine possession and held on $750,000 cash bond. He pleaded not guilty March 5, was found competent to stand trial August 3, and has a plea hearing set for October 12, 2026.
January 13, 2026: Frank Mosley III, Age 28 — Milwaukee
Frank Mosley III, 28, was found shot and killed in an apartment building parking lot. Prosecutors say Mosley and Amier H. Jones, Jr. attempted an armed robbery that morning, and that the intended target was a man who was dating the mother of Jones’ child. Mosley was shot and killed by the intended target during the attempt. Jones was charged with felony murder on May 20, 2026, after he was arrested following a high-speed chase across three counties.
At the time of the homicide, Jones was already the subject of a separate domestic violence case involving the mother of his child. He faced charges including felony stalking, intimidation of a victim, illegal possession of a firearm by a felon, recklessly endangering safety, and fleeing. A no-contact order had been in place since January 22, 2026. While held in the Milwaukee County Jail, Jones allegedly violated that order more than 1,500 times and threatened the victim, her family, and the investigating officer. He was charged with victim intimidation in a domestic abuse crime, and with threatening a person involved in the legal system. Jones has denied involvement in the robbery. He has five open criminal cases in Milwaukee County.
This case is included in our tracking under a romantic rival nexus. The man killed was the perpetrator’s accomplice, not the intended target. The intended target was the new partner of the mother of the perpetrator’s child.
January 14, 2026: Alicia Machnik, Age 29 — Milwaukee
Alicia Machnik, a mother of two, was found shot in the head at the Port Motel on Appleton Avenue on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Her husband, 29-year-old Lance Devon White, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide. After his arrest at St. Luke’s Hospital — where a family member brought him after he appeared “disheveled and dirty” and “off” — White confessed to the homicide, claiming Machnik had asked him to shoot her. A family member told investigators Alicia had “spiraled out of control” since marrying White about a year earlier.
January 21, 2026: Michael Sanders, Age 73, Mauston (Juneau County)
Michael Sanders, 73, was found dead on January 21, 2026, at the Willows Motel on East State Street in Mauston, where he and his son lived in adjacent rooms. Deputies in Vigo County, Indiana, had stopped his son, Jacob Scott Sanders, 34, driving his father’s vehicle and asked Juneau County authorities to check on him. An autopsy documented more than 26 sharp force injuries to his hands, neck and face, including defensive wounds, and investigators reported finding a curved knife with dried blood in the son’s room.
Jacob Sanders was charged in Juneau County with first-degree intentional homicide with a domestic abuse modifier, and with taking and driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent. As of late January he was being held in Indiana awaiting extradition.
January 21, 2026: Daniel Nelson — Brillion
A 66-year-old man was found dead inside a home in Brillion. The victim’s wife had returned from grocery shopping and discovered her husband severely injured. Their 40-year-old son, Kenneth Nelson, was found outside the residence with his hand wrapped in duct tape and blood stains on his clothing. The Calumet County Medical Examiner determined the death was a homicide caused by blunt force trauma, with a stoneware jug and vacuum cleaner appearing to be the weapons used. Nelson has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Bond was set at $2 million. Kenneth Nelson was found not competent to stand trial, and an involuntary medication order issued in July is stayed pending appeal.
January 25, 2026: Luis Sotero Herrera, Age 34, Madison
Luis Sotero Herrera, 34, was found shot to death in the road on the 400 block of Primrose Lane on Madison’s south side at about 3 a.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2026. According to the criminal complaint, his ex-girlfriend told her father that Herrera had kicked her the night before. Her father, Jorge Eleodoro Baez, 67, allegedly left the home, and Herrera was found shot a short time later. Security video allegedly captured Baez telling his daughter, “I killed him.” Baez is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is being held on $2 million cash bail. He has pleaded not guilty, and his jury trial is scheduled to begin April 26, 2027. His daughter faces separate firearm charges.
January 28, 2026: Equanis Salinas, Age 32 — Greenfield
Equanis Salinas was fatally stabbed inside an apartment after a neighbor called 911 to report sounds of physical violence. His girlfriend, 29-year-old Britney Morris, has been charged with second-degree reckless homicide. According to the criminal complaint, Morris told police she had been strangled and was “fearful for her life,” and reported that Salinas told her “she would die.” Investigators noted 17 knife punctures in a bedroom door before Salinas opened it. Morris’s defense has framed the stabbing as self-defense following escalating abuse. The couple’s 4-year-old daughter was home at the time.
February 4, 2026: Gabriella Cartagena, Age 24 — Marinette
Gabriella Cartagena, mother of a 3-year-old daughter, was last seen at Red Arrow Park in Marinette around 5 p.m. Her family received a phone call at 7:19 p.m. in which Gabriella was heard pleading, “Please don’t shoot me. I’m sorry.” Her body was found February 10 in a wooded area near Birch Creek Road in Menominee County, Michigan, after a multi-agency search. Her boyfriend, 29-year-old Robert Chilcote, confessed to shooting her in his car during an argument and dumping her body. He has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is being held on $2 million bond. Notably, Chilcote had been charged with Aggravated Battery via complaint warrant on February 6 — the same day Cartagena was reported missing. Chilcote waived his preliminary hearing on April 2 and pleaded not guilty on May 6.
February 5, 2026: Amanda Varisco, Age 44 — Milwaukee
Amanda Varisco was stabbed more than 22 times in her apartment in the 3600 block of West National Avenue. Her live-in partner, 39-year-old Mile Dukic, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two felony counts of bail jumping. After the killing, Dukic sent a text message to Varisco’s daughter saying he had killed her mother. At the time of the homicide, Dukic had two open felony cases in Milwaukee County — one for stalking with use of a dangerous weapon (filed February 9, 2025) and one for bail jumping (filed September 2025). He had a 2010 conviction for homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. The case has drawn attention to Milwaukee County’s felony case backlog.
February 11, 2026: Todd Nechkash Sr., Age 62 — Ridgeway (Iowa County).
Todd Nechkash Sr., 62, was found stabbed to death in his home in the Village of Ridgeway during a welfare check on February 13, 2026; investigators believe he died the evening of February 11. His estranged wife, Kelli Nechkash, 67, of Black Earth, was arrested February 14 after a sixth-offense OWI crash in Mineral Point and charged with first-degree intentional homicide. She reportedly told authorities, “I didn’t try to murder him.”
She was bound over for trial March 19 and pleaded not guilty April 6, 2026.
February 21, 2026: Jody L. Marzello, Age 62 — Town of Lafayette (Elkhorn)
Jody Lee Marzello, 62, was found unconscious on her bedroom floor at about 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, February 21, 2026, in the home near Elkhorn that she shared with her adult son and his roommate. She died at the home despite lifesaving efforts. Her son survived serious head injuries allegedly inflicted with a metal pipe. The roommate, Joseph P. Christman, 38, was charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide and other felonies. On September 25, 2026, the court allowed prosecutors to amend the complaint, and Christman now also faces a charge of first-degree intentional homicide. Every count carries a domestic abuse modifier. His next court date is October 16, 2026.
February 24, 2026: Cheryl Jenkins, Age 66 — West Milwaukee
Cheryl Jenkins was found face-down in a guest bedroom at her home near 44th and Mitchell with a wooden baseball bat on top of her body. Her son, 38-year-old Hayward Jenkins, had arrived the night before and was staying in the guest room. He has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide. After his arrest at Potawatomi Casino, Hayward Jenkins admitted to police that he and his mother had argued over silver coins and money, and that he struck her in the head multiple times with a bat while she was sitting in a chair. He told investigators he was “wrong for murdering my mother.” Bond was set at $300,000. He waived his preliminary hearing on March 10, was bound over for trial, and pleaded not guilty.
February 28, 2026: Terry DuSell, Age 56 — Ladysmith
Terry DuSell, 56, was shot six to seven times, and his body was discovered in early March 2026 in Rusk County. Prosecutors allege his wife, Elizabeth DuSell, 55, was having an affair with Charles Allers, 62, of Exeland, and that the two discussed killing her husband before Allers shot him.
Allers was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse and pleaded not guilty May 12; he is held on $1 million cash bond. Elizabeth DuSell’s charges were upgraded to first-degree intentional homicide as party to a crime plus hiding a corpse; she pleaded not guilty at her July 24, 2026 arraignment and is held on $100,000 cash bond, with a review hearing October 13.
March 6, 2026: Larry Shaw, Age 67, Kenosha.
Larry Shaw, 67, was found stabbed to death on March 6, 2026, in the room he shared with his girlfriend at the Park Ridge Inn in Kenosha. Police initially sought Matrice Role, 45, of Kenosha, as an acquaintance. The criminal complaint, as reported, says the two were dating and living together at the motel.
Role was charged March 17 with first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and is held on cash bail. Role was arrested and held on $500,000 cash bail on a homicide charge.
March 6, 2026: Renesia Thompson, Age 29 — Milwaukee
Renesia Thompson, mother of two boys, was found shot to death in a car at Estabrook Park in Shorewood late Friday night. A caller reported hearing a man and woman arguing in the park, followed by gunfire. Approximately 12 hours later, the suspect — 28-year-old Jalun Malka Cotton — was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside a home on the 3600 block of North 19th Street. The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the gun used in his suicide was the same weapon used to kill Thompson. Court records show Cotton had a documented history of abusing Thompson; in June 2025, prosecutors charged him with misdemeanor battery, disorderly conduct, and criminal damage after he allegedly forced his way into her home, assaulted her, and damaged her bathroom door. Thompson and Cotton met in Texas before moving to Milwaukee a few years ago. Thompson’s mother, Eddricka Wagner, said “the system dropped the ball.”
March 7, 2026: Patricia Mae Glenn, Age 75 — Town of Mount Morris (Waushara County).
Patricia Mae Glenn, 75, was found stabbed to death in her home during a welfare check around March 8, 2026. Her grandson, Randy Jenks, 36, who shared the residence, told family members he had stabbed his grandmother, then fled Wisconsin. He was arrested March 9 at a relative’s home in Utah with blood on his clothes and a bloody knife, and was extradited.
Jenks was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and held on $2 million cash bond. At an April 27, 2026 hearing he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect, and a psychiatric examination was ordered. A first examination supported the plea; a second psychiatric examination was ordered on September 4.
March 11, 2026: Cortney Harvey, Age 31, Milwaukee
Cortney Harvey, 31, was shot and killed around 7 p.m. on March 11, 2026, near 87th and Congress in Milwaukee. His family told reporters that he had gone to help his sister after she ended a relationship, and that he broke up an assault in which her ex-boyfriend grabbed her by the neck and slammed her against a wall. According to the family, the man left, came back, and shot Harvey and then his sister, who survived. Police reported that a second person was wounded in the shooting.
Milwaukee police told reporters that the man the family identified, Torcel Thomas, was being charged. No arrest had been reported as of March 18.
March 12, 2026: Attempted Murder, Completed Suicide — La Crosse
La Crosse police responded to a shooting in the 1800 block of Onalaska Avenue. A female victim was transported to a local hospital in stable condition. The suspect, 47-year-old Deontis Jackson, was found inside the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound and pronounced dead at the scene. La Crosse police described the incident as a domestic-related attempted murder-suicide.
March 19, 2026: Kuren Rein, Age 14 — Town of Turtle
Kuren Rein, a freshman at Beloit Memorial High School, was found dead from multiple stab wounds in her home in the Town of Turtle in Rock County. Her mother, 41-year-old Tyiece Oninski, called the non-emergency line of the Rock County Communications Center the next morning and confessed during a 13-minute call. Oninski told dispatchers she had killed her daughter “to protect her from somebody else,” later identified as Elon Musk. Oninski tested positive for benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and THC. She has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is held on $1 million bond. Kuren’s aunt described the killing as “the devastating ending to a years-long battle amongst family members and the overworked system put in place to protect our children.” Kuren’s funeral was held on April 3. The last homicide in the Town of Turtle dates back to 2011. Oninski pleaded not guilty on April 30. A second competency evaluation was ordered on September 22.
March 23, 2026: Amber K. Montana, Age 37 — Twin Lakes
Amber Montana was shot 10 times inside the Twin Lakes apartment she shared with her boyfriend, 35-year-old Brandyn R. Hall, and the couple’s 11-month-old son. Hall has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree recklessly endangering safety, possession of a firearm by a felon, and disorderly conduct while armed. He told investigators he believed there were listening devices around the apartment and that Montana was involved in a conspiracy to kill him. Hall admitted to staging the scene after the shooting to make it appear Montana had been holding a gun. Both were originally from Chicago. Bond was set at $2 million.
April 1, 2026: Makayla Rutka-Plaza, Age 28 — Kenosha
Makayla Rutka-Plaza was stabbed to death in her home in the 7400 block of 22nd Avenue while two of her young sons were present. Her estranged husband, 33-year-old Marckus Plaza, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse modifiers, plus two counts of causing mental harm to a child. A friend was on the phone with Makayla when Plaza arrived to pick up the children and became physical with her, and later gave police a recording in which Makayla can be heard pleading, “I’m sorry” and “I love you,” while Plaza responded, “It’s too late for that.” Plaza was found hiding in the basement of Salon Suites by Hair Unlimited the following day. Makayla had previously worked as an advocate. She had filed for divorce on February 2 and sought a restraining order on February 3, which was denied for failing to meet the burden of proof. Police records show that since January 11, Makayla had reported issues with Marckus’s behavior on five separate occasions. Marckus had been arrested in February for disorderly conduct and battery related to an altercation with Makayla’s boyfriend, but those charges were never formally filed by the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office. Following her death, Kenosha County court officials removed Court Commissioner William Michel II from handling restraining order cases. Bond was raised to $2 million. On September 17, Plaza was charged with possessing a homemade weapon in the Kenosha County Jail.
April 4, 2026: Tremayne Montgomery, Age 40 — Milwaukee
Tremayne Montgomery, a Milwaukee father and grandfather, was shot and killed late on Easter weekend Saturday outside Fremos Bar on Fond du Lac Avenue. According to the criminal complaint, an altercation broke out in the bar’s bathroom between Montgomery and Montrel Calhoun, age 50, who had been dating Montgomery’s ex-girlfriend of approximately eight years for the past two years. Bar security separated the two men and forced them outside, where surveillance video captured Calhoun firing 11 shots at Montgomery, then stomping on his head and striking him with the pistol as he lay in the street. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office found that Montgomery was shot nine times and sustained several blunt force injuries to his face. The woman who had accompanied Calhoun to the bar stayed behind to perform CPR on Montgomery while Calhoun fled the scene.
Calhoun was located the following day at an apartment on Becher Street, where he exited holding a knife to his own neck and asked officers to shoot him. Police deployed a Taser and took him into custody. He has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, possession of a firearm by a felon, and felony bail jumping.
April 7, 2026: Layla Stahl, age 6, Kenosha (homicide reclassified April 7, 2026)
Layla was found deceased in her bedroom on April 20, 2022, at a residence in the 600 block of 15th Place. The Kenosha County Medical Examiner’s Office initially determined the cause and manner of death to be undetermined. In July 2024, detectives investigated Layla’s mother, Christina L. Torchia (now 33), in a separate case in which she attempted to solicit the homicide of another individual; Torchia pleaded guilty to solicitation of first-degree intentional homicide in February 2026 and was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison plus 4 years of extended supervision. In early 2026, Kenosha County Sheriff’s investigators reexamined Layla’s death. On March 12, 2026, detectives interviewed Torchia and identified numerous inconsistencies and statements contradicted by evidence. In consultation with the Kenosha County DA’s Office and Medical Examiner Patrice Hall, a court order was obtained and approved by a Kenosha County judge officially amending the manner of death to homicide. On April 7, 2026, Christina L. Torchia was formally charged with first-degree intentional homicide.
April 19, 2026: Richard S. Ortiz-Robles, Age 28 — Milwaukee
Richard Ortiz-Robles, 28, was fatally shot early on April 19, 2026, outside a bar on South 13th Street on Milwaukee’s south side. His brother-in-law, Daniel Munoz, 26, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and possession of a firearm by a felon. According to the criminal complaint, surveillance video shows Munoz firing seven times; both men’s wives were present. Munoz told investigators he had no recollection of the shooting.
April 24, 2026: Lukas Rosch, Age 25 — Okauchee
Lukas Rosch was fatally stabbed in the chest at an apartment in Okauchee, an unincorporated area within the Village of Lac La Belle. His girlfriend, 27-year-old Mikayla Kloth, has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide. According to the criminal complaint, Kloth admitted to stabbing Rosch during an argument that started over chicken he brought to her apartment for dinner. When asked who stabbed the victim, Kloth told an officer at the scene, “I did,” telling police she was angry at him because she had wanted to go out to eat that night. Bond was set at $2 million. Kloth was bound over for trial after a May 29 preliminary hearing.
April 25, 2026: Stephanie Birn, Age 37 — Kenosha
Stephanie Birn, a mother to an 11-year-old boy, was found dead inside a residence in Kenosha. According to the criminal complaint, Dale Dallia, 42, a former intimate partner, kicked in her front door and stabbed her in the neck. Birn’s current partner, a 41-year-old man, was also at the residence and was seriously injured but survived. Dallia was arrested as he attempted to leave the scene and has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, and related counts. His bond was set at $2 million.
Dallia had been sentenced on February 11, 2026, after pleading guilty to third-offense OWI and domestic-related conduct. Ordered to serve 90 days, he was released on March 25, exactly one month before the homicide.
April 26, 2026: Thomas J. Anker, Age 57, Town of Norrie (Marathon County)
Thomas J. Anker was fatally stabbed early Sunday morning at a home in the 183000 block of Norrie Road in the Town of Norrie. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting the stabbing at approximately 12:32 a.m. Deputies arrived and found Anker with a stab wound and began life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The Marathon County Sheriff’s Office said its preliminary investigation indicates the stabbing was an act of family violence and that there is no threat to the public.
Anker’s brother, 58-year-old Timothy J. Anker, was arrested at the scene. On June 4 he was charged with first-degree intentional homicide with a domestic abuse modifier. His bond was raised to $500,000 cash, and a preliminary hearing is set for October 23, 2026.
April 28, 2026: Austin D. Olson, Age 21 — Town of Little Black (Taylor County).
Austin D. Olson, 21, of Medford, was shot in the stomach and killed on April 28, 2026, at his home when Brent M. Porter, 19, of Marshfield, came to the home with his girlfriend, who had previously dated Olson, so she could retrieve her belongings. The two men argued and shoved almost immediately before Porter fired.
Porter was charged June 2 with first-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of a firearm, operating a firearm while intoxicated, and carrying a concealed weapon. His cash bond was raised to $250,000.
May 8, 2026: Susan Paul, 80 — Town of Baraboo, Wisconsin (Sauk County)
80-year-old Susan Paul of Prairie du Sac was shot and killed by her husband, 80-year-old George Paul, at Pewit’s Nest Nature Preserve in the Town of Baraboo, Sauk County. Witnesses reported seeing George pull Susan from a vehicle and shoot her multiple times before driving away. Deputies found her dead from multiple gunshot wounds in the preserve’s parking lot. About an hour later, George drove to the Sauk Prairie Police Department and fired three shots into the building. No one inside was injured. Officers arrested him shortly after he left. George was charged with first-degree intentional homicide with domestic abuse and use of a dangerous weapon modifiers, along with additional felony and misdemeanor counts. The couple had been married more than 50 years. A judge found George Paul competent to stand trial in late September. His next court date is October 15, 2026.
May 8, 2026: Dennis Johnson, 56 — Milwaukee
Dennis Johnson, a 56-year-old public safety officer at the Milwaukee County Courthouse Complex, was killed as a bystander to a family violence dispute that erupted during a custody exchange in Milwaukee. Johnson had agreed to drive his acquaintance, Darrin Sutton to pick up Sutton’s children from the home of the children’s mother. According to the criminal complaint, the conflict began when Sutton argued with the maternal aunt and maternal niece of his children at the pickup location. Johnson exited the vehicle and attempted to de-escalate. The maternal aunt then summoned her boyfriend, Prinston Underwood, who arrived armed. Sutton displayed that he was also armed, and the two men returned to Johnson’s vehicle. As the vehicle pulled away, Underwood opened fire on it and Sutton returned fire. Johnson was struck once in the right upper arm, and officers responding found him drifting out of consciousness in the driver’s seat.
The shooters were linked to one another through Sutton’s co-parenting relationship with the mother of his children. Underwood, the intimate partner of the children’s maternal aunt, fired the shots that struck Johnson’s vehicle during a dispute that arose at a custody exchange between Sutton and his children’s extended maternal family. Custody exchanges are well documented as high-risk moments for family violence, and had the bullet found its intended target, Sutton, the case would have been classified as a family violence homicide arising within an extended family and household network. Johnson’s death is included here as a bystander family violence homicide on that basis. He was at the scene only because he had agreed to help with a custody pickup, and he died trying to de-escalate the family-system conflict that followed.
May 8, 2026: Lor V. Xiong, Age 64 — Milwaukee
Milwaukee Police responded to a battery complaint on Friday, May 8, 2026, on Milwaukee’s north side. Officers located Lor V. Xiong, 64, unresponsive in the basement with blunt force trauma injuries. She died from her injuries, and the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a homicide. A short time later, officers located a 65-year-old man deceased in a garage a few blocks away from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Medical Examiner identified him as Dang Xiong and ruled his death a suicide.
Milwaukee Police initially sought the public’s assistance in identifying unknown suspects in what was first described as an unrelated homicide. On May 11, 2026, police announced they were investigating the two deaths as a domestic violence-related homicide and suicide. The relationship between Lor V. Xiong and Dang Xiong has not been publicly confirmed by law enforcement.
May 18, 2026: Police Standoff, Milwaukee
On May 18, 2026, 33-year-old Devonta C. Daniels of Milwaukee died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound during a domestic violence standoff with Milwaukee police. Police responded around 10:05 a.m. to a residence near 11th and Ring after Daniels, armed, made threats to a victim. Daniels refused to come out or speak with officers. After containment was established and a search warrant obtained, a firearm was discharged inside the residence around 4:18 p.m. Officers found Daniels dead inside. The victim survived.
May 22, 2026: Lisa Bragg-Hurlburt, Age 56 — Eau Claire.
Lisa Bragg-Hurlburt, 56, was stabbed on the evening of May 22, 2026, at her apartment near Carson Park in Eau Claire. Her son, Michael Hurlburt, 27, of Menomonie, called 911 and admitted to stabbing her with a kitchen knife. He told investigators he believed he was the target of “gang stalking” by the U.S. government and China, and that he had planned the killing that day to “make a statement to the rest of the family.”
Hurlburt was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and held on $1 million cash bond. On July 14, 2026, he waived his preliminary hearing and was bound over for trial. On September 10 he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. On September 10 he entered a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.
May 27, 2026: Joriel Ramirez-Rodriguez, Age 22 months — Racine
Kevin Stanton died in a fire at the home he shared with his son in Altoona on June 15, 2026. An autopsy found he died of carbon monoxide and smoke inhalation. His son, Tyler Stanton, 32, told investigators he set fire to material in the basement because he was “bored,” but the criminal complaint states he had physically fought with his father the night before and argued with his mother that morning, and a woman at the scene said he had previously threatened to harm the family and burn the house down.
Tyler Stanton was charged with homicide by negligent handling of fire, along with misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct counts carrying domestic abuse assessments. He was held on $250,000 cash bond, and prosecutors said more serious homicide charges remained possible. Tyler Stanton has pleaded not guilty, and a status conference is set for October 30, 2026.
July 7, 2026: Shaina Farb, Age 32 – Marshfield (Wood County)
On Monday, July 6, Marshfield Police and Fire responded to a report of a vehicle that had left the road near Wildwood Park and Zoo. Officers found a 32-year-old Marshfield woman and a 34-year-old Owen man inside the vehicle, both with single gunshot wounds. The woman was pulled from the driver’s seat and taken to Marshfield Medical Center in critical condition; the man, in the passenger seat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said at the time that they believed the shooting was an isolated incident resulting from domestic violence and that there was no known risk to the community. In a July 20 update, the department identified the woman as 32-year-old Shaina Farb of Marshfield, who had died of her injuries, and the man as 34-year-old Tyler Johnson of Owen. Investigators determined that Johnson caused Farb’s death before taking his own life, and said they were not seeking additional suspects and knew of no ongoing threat to the public. The investigation remains active, and police released no further detail in that update.
July 9, 2026: Rocky Griffith, Age 76, and Lona Kelley, Age 80 – Town of Hawkins (Rusk County)
On Thursday, July 9, Rusk County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to a residence in the Township of Hawkins for a welfare check. Upon entering the home, deputies found three people dead inside. In a July 15 update, authorities identified the two homicide victims as 76-year-old Rocky Griffith and 80-year-old Lona Kelley, and the suspect as their 45-year-old son, Chad Griffith, who was found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. All three lived in the home together.
July 9, 2026: Connor Henke, Age 28- Town of Marion (Waushara County).
Connor Henke, Age 28, of Wautoma was shot in the chest and abdomen on the evening of July 9, 2026, at a home in the Town of Marion, near Wautoma, that he shared with his girlfriend, Crystal Maciaga, 33. Maciaga called 911 and claimed the gun went off in a struggle after an argument about him contacting other women online, but investigators said the evidence was inconsistent with her account. The morning of the shooting, the victim had texted his father, “Can’t stay home anymore. She’s actually going to kill me.” He had sought a restraining order against Maciaga on June 11, which was denied June 25, and an eviction notice had been served on her.
Maciaga was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and held on $1 million cash bond. She was bound over for trial and pleaded not guilty in late August. A status conference is set for November 23, 2026.
July 16, 2026: Kiana Pliska, Age 32 – St. Francis (Milwaukee County)
St. Francis officers were called to a parking lot on South Packard Avenue near Lake Drive around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, for reports of shots fired and a woman on the ground. They found a 32-year-old Cudahy woman with multiple gunshot wounds and rendered aid. She was taken to the hospital, where she died. The medical examiner identified her as Kiana Pliska. Prosecutors charged her ex, 33-year-old Randall Lenyard, with first-degree intentional homicide and stalking on Tuesday, July 21. Court filings say Lenyard shot Pliska multiple times during an exchange of the child they share, then took the child and drove off before being arrested later that evening. In an interview with police, filings say he admitted to killing her and driving away with their son. The complaint states Pliska was shot in the head, chest, back and torso, and that the shooting happened in front of their 6-year-old son. The complaint says Lenyard then called his sister and told her he had shot her and was about to do the same to their child and himself; the sister called 911. He was arrested after a chase in Wauwatosa.
Hours before she was killed, on July 16, Pliska filed a petition asking for a temporary restraining order against Lenyard, saying he had been tracking her movements and physically and emotionally abusing her for months. A commissioner granted the temporary order the following day, after she was already dead. In that petition she accused him of placing an AirTag on her vehicle, showing up uninvited at her home, contacting her friends and family to track her, sending flowers to her workplace, grabbing her by the neck during a February confrontation, impersonating a detective while calling her hairstylist to find her, and repeatedly threatening to kill her and himself. She wrote that she was afraid of what he would do next. In April she had filed a similar petition. A relative of Lenyard told investigators it was at their urging and that Pliska was like family to them, but said Lenyard had drawn her back in and she did not appear in court, so that petition was dismissed.
July 19, 2026: Jose Samuel Valdivia, Age 28 – West Milwaukee (Milwaukee County)
West Milwaukee officers responded on Sunday, July 19, to the 1200 block of South 52nd Street for a reported domestic violence incident and found two people inside the home with multiple stab wounds. A 28-year-old Milwaukee man died of his injuries, and a 25-year-old West Milwaukee woman suffered non-life-threatening injuries, was hospitalized and later released. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the man who died as 28-year-old Jose Samuel Valdivia. Prosecutors charged 25-year-old Luis Barahona Lopez with first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. According to the criminal complaint, Barahona Lopez broke into his ex-girlfriend’s home and stabbed Valdivia while he slept in bed beside her; a preliminary autopsy found 17 individual wounds. The woman tried to intervene, pushing him away and telling him to leave, and was stabbed in the right hand and leg during the struggle.
She told police she knew Barahona Lopez, with whom she has three children, but did not know how he had gotten into the home. Court records show he was held on $150,000 bond. He had been arrested the previous year on domestic abuse battery and disorderly conduct charges after prosecutors said he punched a woman in the face and broke her nose; he pleaded guilty in March, was ordered to have no contact with the victim or firearms, and was sentenced to 90 days with release privileges for work, childcare and treatment, with a probation review hearing pending. Barahona Lopez pleaded not guilty on September 18.
July 21, 2026: Jeannette Pientka, Age 57 — Town of Carson (Portage County).
Jeannette Pientka, 57, was found stabbed to death in her home in the Town of Carson, near Stevens Point, on July 21, 2026. Surveillance footage showed her sister, Sara Pientka, 46, and the sister’s boyfriend, Lyndon Hood, 60, of Stevens Point, driving toward the home, and the criminal complaint states Hood admitted to the stabbing.
Hood was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and held on $1 million cash bond. He was bound over for trial on September 16. Sara Pientka pleaded guilty on August 28 to misdemeanors, including failure to aid a victim or report a crime, and was sentenced on September 2 to 120 days in jail and three years of probation.
July 23, 2026: Christopher Ramthun, Age 22 — Fond du Lac.
Christopher Ramthun, 22, was shot and killed around 4:30 a.m. on July 23, 2026, in a parking lot off South Main Street next to The Elms mobile home park in Fond du Lac. Ryan Tennies, 26, drove to the scene after his girlfriend, Ramthun’s ex-girlfriend, called saying Ramthun was threatening her. Police said Ramthun repeatedly struck the car Tennies and the woman were sitting in, and Tennies fired after warnings.
Tennies was booked on a requested charge of second-degree intentional homicide and initially held on $1 million cash bond, but was released on a signature bond after about two weeks while the district attorney weighs a self-defense claim pending autopsy and toxicology results. As of October 2, 2026, no charging decision had been announced.
July 26, 2026: Unnamed Woman, New London (Waupaca County)
A woman was found dead on July 26, 2026, in her fifth-floor apartment at the Franklin Park Apartments in New London after several fires were set inside. An autopsy found multiple sharp force injuries to her neck and no soot in her lungs, indicating she died before the fires began. Her son, Rodolfo Gonzalez, 39, was arrested nearby. Her name has not been released.
Gonzalez was charged with first-degree intentional homicide, arson, and mutilating a corpse, and held on $1 million cash bond. He had been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide for an attack on his mother in February 2025 and had been found not competent to stand trial in that case. A competency evaluation was ordered in the new case on August 13.
July 27, 2026: Unnamed 7-month-old girl – Milwaukee
Milwaukee police responded on Monday, July 27, to the 2800 block of North 25th Street, where a 7-month-old was found unresponsive. Police called the cause of death suspicious and arrested a 22-year-old woman. Prosecutors then charged 22-year-old Makenzie Critton, the child’s mother, with one count of physical abuse of a child, repeated acts causing death. According to the complaint, Critton called 911 in the late morning to report her baby was unresponsive and not moving. First responders performed CPR and regained a faint pulse, but the child died at Children’s Wisconsin. Officers noted Critton showed no emotion during CPR or during the ambulance ride, and when questioned she said she had gotten frustrated by the crying, picked the baby up and pressed her face into her chest. The complaint alleges repeated abuse between June 1 and July 27.
The charge was filed Wednesday, July 29. Critton allegedly told investigators she had smothered the child for roughly 10 to 15 minutes that morning, that she had been extremely tired after a party at the residence the night before and had not slept and that she went to bed afterward believing the child was fine. She reportedly said it was normal for the infant to turn blue and that she expected her to start breathing again. The infant’s grandmother told investigators she saw Critton cover the baby’s nose and mouth to stop her crying on June 12 and did not report it to police, though she was worried it would happen again. The child’s father said he was the primary caretaker, and another witness described seeing Critton repeatedly shake the infant.
July 30, 2026: Gregory Cunningham, Age 55 — Milwaukee.
Gregory Cunningham, 55, was fatally shot on July 30, 2026, near 34th and Wright in Milwaukee and was pronounced dead at the scene. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s report states he was reportedly shot by a family member, and investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an argument.
As of October 1st, no arrest or charges had been announced, and police were seeking tips.
July 31, 2026: Phillip Clark Sr., Age 65 — Milwaukee.
Phillip Clark Sr., 65, was shot in the abdomen after an argument at his residence on North 50th Street near Hampton in Milwaukee on July 31, 2026, and was found unresponsive in a bedroom. According to the criminal complaint, his son, Phillip Clark Jr., 26, also pointed a handgun at a female household member as though he would shoot her. The son was arrested at the scene and reportedly said during questioning, “Why did I do that?”
Clark Jr. was charged with first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon, endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, and felony bail jumping.
July 31, 2026: Jaelyn Manke, Age 16, and Lenora Manke, Age 11 – Winneconne (Winnebago County)
Officers responded to a home in the Village of Winneconne for a medical incident and welfare check, and found three people dead inside. The Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, Winneconne Police Department and Winnebago County Medical Examiner’s Office identified them as 57-year-old Jeffrey Manke and his daughters, 16-year-old Jaelyn and 11-year-old Lenora. Authorities said scene evidence indicated the deaths were an isolated incident with no threat to the public. Online court records show that a divorce hearing between Lindsey Lewandowski and Jeffrey Manke was held earlier that same Friday, with the court granting judgment of divorce and finding the marriage irretrievably broken. In a social media post the following Monday, Lindsey Dash, the girls’ mother, wrote that everyone the girls spoke to knew they were not safe in his care, that she had fought to keep them safe, that a family counselor had dismissed them and refused to continue working with them, that CPS reports had been made and police had been called, and that she was legally required to send them when they felt unsafe. She said the system failed her children.
On September 17, the Winnebago County Medical Examiner ruled the deaths a double murder-suicide. All three died of gunshot wounds. Jeffrey Manke shot his daughters and then himself.
August 3, 2026: Diego Avila-Fuentes, Age 41 — Milwaukee.
Diego Avila-Fuentes, 41, was stabbed during a confrontation at a residence just south of I-94, on August 3, 2026, and died at a hospital. According to the criminal complaint, Agustin Moreno, 34, of Waukesha, had started a fight at a West Allis bar earlier that night and strangled a woman, who then went to the home near 94th and Adler for safety. When Moreno arrived, a woman told him to leave and he tried to hit her, prompting Avila-Fuentes to intervene. A witness said Moreno grabbed an “army style” knife from his SUV during the ensuing fist fight and stabbed Avila-Fuentes once before fleeing.
While detectives were still at the scene, they learned Moreno had arrived at a Waukesha hospital with a stab wound of his own, and blood was found in his home and SUV. He was charged in Milwaukee County with second-degree reckless homicide and misdemeanor disorderly conduct as an act of domestic abuse, and was held on $125,000 bond.
August 8, 2026: Vanessa DeHerrera, Age 26 — Milwaukee.
Vanessa DeHerrera, 26, was fatally shot on Saturday, August 8, 2026,on Milwaukee’s south side, in a shooting police confirmed was domestic violence-related. Her family said she lost her life after trying to leave an on-and-off-again boyfriend, and that she had recently moved in with a cousin to distance herself from him. Her friend Scott Bucholz, 29, was killed alongside her while trying to help her during the dispute.
Thomas Zollicoffer, 36, was arrested August 11 after a standoff near 84th and Fiebrantz. He was charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, bound over for trial on August 24, and is held on $1 million bond.
August 8, 2026: Scott Bucholz, Age 29 — Milwaukee.
Scott Bucholz, 29, was fatally shot on August 8, 2026, in Milwaukee, alongside his friend Vanessa DeHerrera, 26. Police said the double homicide was domestic violence-related, and both families said Bucholz was killed while helping his friend during a domestic dispute. DeHerrera’s family said they wanted to acknowledge “the bravery of the other young man who lost his life alongside Vanessa.”
Bucholz, who would have turned 30 in October, was remembered by his sister as genuine, loyal, and caring, a man who loved music, cooking, and spending time with the people close to him.
Thomas Zollicoffer, 36, was arrested August 11 after a standoff near 84th and Fiebrantz. He was charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, bound over for trial on August 24, and is held on $1 million bond.
August 8, 2026: Shamarla Hare, Age 39 — Milwaukee.
Shamarla Hare, 39, was fatally shot around 10:05 p.m. on August 8, 2026, on the 3400 block of North 39th Street near Townsend in Milwaukee, roughly 25 minutes after the double homicide of Vanessa DeHerrera and Scott Bucholz near 21st and Pierce. Police confirmed the two shootings were connected and domestic violence related. According to her family, the man responsible came to her after the first shooting, and when she wanted no part of it, he shot her before fleeing. She was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Thomas Zollicoffer, 36, was arrested August 11 after a standoff near 84th and Fiebrantz. He was charged with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide, bound over for trial on August 24, and is held on $1 million bond.
August 9, 2026: Jason Kaplan, Age 25, Janesville
Jason Kaplan, 25, of Milton, was shot and killed at a home in the 100 block of South Academy Street in Janesville on August 9, 2026. According to the criminal complaint, Mantezz J. Granger became upset when he saw his former long-term girlfriend on a video chat with her new acquaintance, Kaplan. Kaplan went outside to talk with Granger and later went with others to the Academy Street home, where Granger and another man tried to force their way onto the porch and the shooting followed. Others were injured. Granger, 20, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide. Three other men, Demetrius Cooper, Tyshawn Howe, and Marshaun Jones, also face charges. Granger has pleaded not guilty and is being held on $2 million cash bail.
August 25, 2026: Sara Venzke, Age 48, and David Venzke, Town of Greenfield (La Crosse County)
Sara Jean Venzke, 48, and her husband, David Venzke, were found dead in their home on Wuensch Road in the Town of Greenfield on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, after deputies responded to a welfare check. Autopsies confirmed that both died of gunshot wounds inside the home. The La Crosse County Sheriff’s Office described it as an isolated incident with no threat to the public and has not released further details. Sara was a nurse practitioner who served patients in La Crosse and neighboring communities.
September 4, 2026: Marris Virgil, Age 37, Milwaukee
Marris Virgil, 37, was shot and killed in a home in the 1200 block of West Keefe Avenue in Milwaukee at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, in an extended family violence case. According to the criminal complaint, Darrius S. Shelton, 21, a cousin of the sons of Virgil’s long-term partner, shot Virgil during an argument over a PlayStation. Virgil’s partner witnessed the shooting and told police that Shelton then pointed the gun at her and threatened to shoot her before fleeing. Her two young sons were also in the home. Shelton is charged with first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.
September 7, 2026: Bryan Schuller, Age 41, Milwaukee
Bryan Schuller, 41, was shot and killed in his bedroom at a home near 37th and Brown in Milwaukee on the evening of September 7, 2026. According to reporting on the criminal complaint, Wilson Jackson, 34, looked through his ex-girlfriend’s phone, saw messages between her and his half brother, left, and returned with two guns. He fired at the two of them and missed, fought with his half brother, then went to the bedroom of Schuller, their housemate, asked whether he had known, and shot him.
Jackson was charged with first-degree reckless homicide, two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, two firearm possession counts, and felony bail jumping, and was held on $1 million cash bond. He had been free on a signature bond in an earlier gun case.
September 10, 2026: Unnamed Woman, Age 79, Ellison Bay (Door County)
A 79-year-old woman died on September 10, 2026, at a Green Bay hospital, three days after paramedics were called to the Ellison Bay home she shared with her boyfriend, Richard C. Engberg, 83. According to the criminal complaint, her health had declined and she had been lying outside near the front porch for an estimated one to two weeks before Engberg called 911 on September 7. Paramedics found her with severe, untreated wounds. Engberg is charged with recklessly subjecting an individual at risk to abuse, causing death. The court has ordered a competency evaluation, and a hearing is scheduled for October 29, 2026. Her name has not been released.
September 19, 2026: Katie Kieffer, Age 35 – Town of Smelser (Grant County)
Grant County dispatch got a 911 call reporting a shooting at a home in the Township of Smelser, near Cuba City. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said Katie Kieffer, 35, of Darlington, had gone to the home of her ex-partner, Ben Randecker, 40, to drop off the child they shared. When Kieffer got out of her car, Randecker shot her with a handgun and then shot himself. Their child was inside the car during the shooting and was not physically injured; the child is now with family. Kieffer died at the scene. Randecker died later at a Madison hospital.
The sheriff’s office said the relationship had ended recently. On August 14, about five weeks before the shooting, Randecker was arrested in Darlington on charges of domestic battery, domestic disorderly conduct, criminal damage to property and stalking. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office is still investigating.
September 20, 2026: Darius Allen, Age 26 – Racine (Racine County)
Racine police responded around 3 a.m. to a report of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian near Hubbard and Wisconsin Streets. Police said Darius Allen, 26, of Racine, had been arguing with his girlfriend, Adasia Jones, 22, of Mount Pleasant. During the argument he jumped onto the hood of her vehicle and fell off as she drove away. Police said Jones then came back and ran him over. Allen was found in the roadway and taken to the hospital. Police learned around 7 a.m. that he had died.
Police said Jones was under the influence of intoxicants. She was first arrested for reckless endangering safety and operating while intoxicated causing injury. After Allen died, the charge was amended to homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. At her initial appearance on September 21, a court commissioner found probable cause and set a $15,000 cash bond. Her bond conditions include GPS-monitored house arrest, no alcohol, and no contact with Allen’s family. Her preliminary hearing is set for October 1.
September 26, 2026: Allan Christopherson, Age 56 – Town of Casey (Washburn County)
Allan Christopherson, 56, of St. Michael, Minnesota, a longtime Wayzata teacher and championship-winning golf coach, was found dead at a family cabin near McKenzie Lake on September 26, 2026, after a welfare check. He was killed with a knife. His obituary lists his death as September 27 in Spooner. His son, Colton Christopherson, 25, was arrested at the scene and is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in Washburn County.
October 8, 2026: Amaya Walls, Age 20 – Milwaukee
Amaya Walls, 20, was shot and killed Thursday, October 8, 2026, near 42nd and Good Hope in Milwaukee. According to prosecutors, she had reported domestic violence to police earlier that day, after her boyfriend, Timothy Taylor, 39, became abusive and threatened to “shoot the house up and shoot you” during a speakerphone call with officers present. Surveillance video shows Taylor pulling up as Walls ran toward a home. Prosecutors say he shot her three times at close range, then shot her aunt, who survived, before fleeing. Taylor is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, two counts of felony bail jumping, and misdemeanor domestic abuse battery. An arrest warrant has been issued and, as of October 13, he had not been arrested.
October 10, 2026: Kazzie Ference, Age 44 – Milwaukee
Kazzie Ference, 44, a mother of eight, was shot and killed early Saturday, October 10, 2026, at her home near 77th and Carmen in Milwaukee. According to the criminal complaint, her boyfriend, Tavarris Tramell Jones, 41, was told to leave after an argument and to hand over his keys. Tensions rose after she went on a date with another man. A 9-year-old child told investigators she saw her father point a gun at her mother’s head and fire. The complaint quotes Jones as saying, “You not gonna cheat on me no more cus you dead.” Jones is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a mandatory life sentence on conviction.