KENOSHA, Wis. – A 48-year-old Kenosha woman with a history of drunk driving that once left another motorist seriously injured is facing new felony charges after a crash and hit-and-run in Somers.
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How much is a human life worth in the Kenosha County legal system? Last week, a judge in Kenosha County answered that question with a number: $750,000. Can you really put a figure on the life of a human being? Especially a beloved 28-year-old mother of three from Kenosha who was, according to prosecutors, butchered inside her own home while her two little
Makayla Plaza Remembered As Loving Mother, Animal Lover And Friend Who “Never Judged Anyone” KENOSHA, Wis. — Friends and family are remembering Makayla Marie Rutka Plaza as a caring mother, devoted daughter and loyal friend who always put others before herself, as a growing community fundraiser continues to support her three young children following her killing. Makayla Plaza, 28, was killed April 1
KENOSHA, Wis. — Residents dealing with fallen branches and storm debris after Thursday night’s severe weather will be able to take advantage of curbside pickup services offered by the City of Kenosha. City crews from the Department of Public Works and Parks Department are expected to begin surveying impacted neighborhoods
Kenosha Storm of April 3, 2026(Submitted by Reader) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Strong storms tore through Kenosha County Thursday night, leaving behind downed trees, damaged homes, toppled power lines and thousands of residents without electricity. Many readers sent Kenosha County Eye photos overnight and early Friday morning showing the widespread
Kenosha Police Chief Pat Patton at Press Conference this Evening(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) Warning: The details in this case are disturbing and may be graphic for some readers. KENOSHA, Wis. — Police held a press conference at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kenosha Public Museum, where they
KENOSHA, Wis. — Jake C. Wenzel, 30, of Antioch, Illinois, was charged Tuesday with four new counts of felony bail jumping and four counts of violating jail rules after prosecutors say he repeatedly communicated with Salem woman Savannah Lee Burm while both were locked up in the Kenosha County Detention
Kevin T. Anderson, 43, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man accused of strangling his girlfriend’s daughter’s fiancé and battering another family member during a domestic disturbance was charged Wednesday and given a $5,000 cash bail by Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II. Kevin
Andrew Richardson Farah, 19, of Milwaukee(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 19-year-old Milwaukee man accused of leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Kenosha and Racine counties had his bail cut in half Thursday by Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II after originally being wanted on
How much is a human life worth in the Kenosha County legal system? Last week, a judge in Kenosha County answered that question with a number: $750,000. Can you really put a figure on the life of a human being? Especially a beloved 28-year-old mother of three from Kenosha who was, according to prosecutors, butchered inside her own home while her two little
Makayla Plaza Remembered As Loving Mother, Animal Lover And Friend Who “Never Judged Anyone” KENOSHA, Wis. — Friends and family are remembering Makayla Marie Rutka Plaza as a caring mother, devoted daughter and loyal friend who always put others before herself, as a growing community fundraiser continues to support her three young children following her killing. Makayla Plaza, 28, was killed April 1
KENOSHA, Wis. — Residents dealing with fallen branches and storm debris after Thursday night’s severe weather will be able to take advantage of curbside pickup services offered by the City of Kenosha. City crews from the Department of Public Works and Parks Department are expected to begin surveying impacted neighborhoods in the coming days following the April 2 storms. Residents are being asked
Kenosha Storm of April 3, 2026(Submitted by Reader) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Strong storms tore through Kenosha County Thursday night, leaving behind downed trees, damaged homes, toppled power lines and thousands of residents without electricity. Many readers sent Kenosha County Eye photos overnight and early Friday morning showing the widespread destruction left behind by the storm. Images submitted to KCE showed large trees
Kenosha Police Chief Pat Patton at Press Conference this Evening(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) Warning: The details in this case are disturbing and may be graphic for some readers. KENOSHA, Wis. — Police held a press conference at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kenosha Public Museum, where they laid out new details about the murder of Makayla Plaza, the nearly 30-hour
KENOSHA, Wis. — Jake C. Wenzel, 30, of Antioch, Illinois, was charged Tuesday with four new counts of felony bail jumping and four counts of violating jail rules after prosecutors say he repeatedly communicated with Salem woman Savannah Lee Burm while both were locked up in the Kenosha County Detention Center. Wenzel is already facing two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and
Kevin T. Anderson, 43, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man accused of strangling his girlfriend’s daughter’s fiancé and battering another family member during a domestic disturbance was charged Wednesday and given a $5,000 cash bail by Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II. Kevin T. Anderson, 43, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in
Andrew Richardson Farah, 19, of Milwaukee(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 19-year-old Milwaukee man accused of leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Kenosha and Racine counties had his bail cut in half Thursday by Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II after originally being wanted on a $40,000 arrest warrant issued last month. Andrew Richardson Farah, 19, of Milwaukee(Kenosha
Jeffery J. Schrock, 47, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) Update 4/3/2026 @ 6:22 p.m.: Attorney Benjamin Schwarz successfully moved to dismiss the child-neglect charge during Schrock’s initial appearance Thursday. Schrock now faces only the remaining counts of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and resisting an officer. KENOSHA, Wis. — A 47-year-old Kenosha man accused of leaving his 10-year-old son home alone while he
Robert J. Schmidt Sr., 53, of Twin Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A Twin Lakes man accused of stealing thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry and mailed checks from an elderly man who allowed him to live in his home for years was given a $7,500 cash bail Thursday by Court Commissioner William Michel II. Robert J. Schmidt Sr., 53,
Ramon Morales, 46, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 46-year-old Illinois man accused of repeatedly stealing roofing materials and shingles from Menards stores had his cash bail reduced Thursday after his arrest Wednesday, while his alleged co-defendant, Juan Zavala Gonzalez, 41, remains at large. Ramon Morales, 46, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — Two people are dead after a house fire early Thursday morning in the 2500 block of 116th Street in Pleasant Prairie. Police were reportedly the first to arrive at the home, where they found heavy flames coming from the rear of the house. Officers indicated the fire was too intense for them to safely enter the residence without proper
Lorilei L. Barwick, 53, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — A Kenosha woman accused of stealing more than $2,100 worth of merchandise from Target and Nike over two separate dates was charged Wednesday and given a $2,500 cash bail by Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II. Michel also ordered 53-year-old Lorilei L. Barwick to have no contact with
Kenosha Police Department(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 24-year-old Chicago man is wanted in Kenosha County after prosecutors charged him with allegedly using a fake funeral donation scam to try to steal thousands of dollars from shoppers outside two Kenosha stores. Court Commissioner William Michel II issued a $10,000 warrant for Kion E. Harris after charges were
KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha Hometown Heroes Commission is once again seeking nominations for local veterans to be recognized during the second quarter of 2026. The program honors men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces and who have a connection to the City of Kenosha. Eligible nominees must have been born in Kenosha, currently
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha residents will once again be able to drop off brush, branches and compostable materials beginning Monday, April 6, when the city’s Compost/Brush Drop-Off Site reopens for the season. The site, located at 4071 88th Ave., will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The service is available only to City of Kenosha residents and
GREENDALE, Wis. — Republican gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Tom Tiffany unveiled two major economic proposals Tuesday, calling for an end to Wisconsin’s vehicle emissions testing requirement and promising to eliminate state income taxes on tips and overtime pay. During an event in Greendale, Tiffany said Wisconsin’s emissions testing system is outdated and places unnecessary burdens on drivers in seven southeastern Wisconsin counties. He
KENOSHA, Wis. — Four longtime Kenosha community leaders who died in 2025 and 2026 will be honored later this month during the City of Kenosha’s annual Arbor Day observance, with memorial trees planted in their names at parks across the city. The Arbor Day commemorations will take place April 24 and will recognize John Hawley, Dr. Paul Capelli, William “Bill” Rice Jr. and
Marckus L.A. Plaza, 33, of Kenosha (Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office)Crime Scene (Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) Warning: The details in this case are disturbing and may be graphic for some readers. KENOSHA, Wis. — District Attorney Xavier Solis and his team worked quickly with Kenosha police Wednesday to file a homicide charge and secure an arrest warrant within hours of Makayla Marie Rutka
Racine County Deputy Emil Ortiz, 37, of Somers (Mugshot)FLOCK Image Illegally Obtained by Ortiz KENOSHA, Wis. — The John Doe petition filed by Kenosha County Eye publisher Kevin Mathewson against Racine County Sheriff’s Deputy Emil Ortiz continues to move forward, with Chief Judge Wynne P. Lautenberg now assigning a Walworth County judge to oversee the case and Ortiz formally hiring two attorneys. You
KENOSHA, Wis. — In an unusual development following charges filed against Salem woman Savannah Lee Burm, both Burm’s sister and Burm’s attorney contacted Kenosha County Eye after the outlet published a story detailing allegations that Burm helped accused attempted homicide suspect Jake C. Wenzel avoid capture. Burm, 29, was charged on Nov. 26 with Straw Purchasing of a Firearm, Harboring or Aiding a
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha police have not officially confirmed the identity of the victim in Tuesday morning’s apparent homicide near 75th Street and 22nd Avenue, but sources indicate the victim is seemingly Makayla Marie Rutka Plaza, 28. The suspect is her estranged husband, 33-year-old Marckus L.A. Plaza, who remained the subject of a massive manhunt as of publication. Police were initially called to
KENOSHA, Wis. — Wisconsin Circuit Court records filed early Tuesday morning show the state Department of Revenue filed a delinquent income tax warrant against Solis in Kenosha County Circuit Court, case number 2026TW000318. The warrant, which carries the force of a civil judgment, reflects $8,024 in unpaid income taxes, $2,873.98 in penalties, and $2,710.60 in accrued interest, a total of $13,608.58. The underlying
KENOSHA, Wis. — A new U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down a Colorado conversion therapy ban is likely to place the City of Kenosha’s own ordinance banning the practice on shaky constitutional ground. On Tuesday, the nation’s highest court ruled 8-1 that Colorado’s law banning licensed therapists from providing conversion therapy to minors violated the First Amendment because it restricted speech based on
How much is a human life worth in the Kenosha County legal system? Last week, a judge in Kenosha County answered that question with a number: $750,000. Can you really put a figure on the life of a human being? Especially a beloved 28-year-old mother of three from Kenosha who was, according to prosecutors, butchered inside her own home while her two little
Makayla Plaza Remembered As Loving Mother, Animal Lover And Friend Who “Never Judged Anyone” KENOSHA, Wis. — Friends and family are remembering Makayla Marie Rutka Plaza as a caring mother, devoted daughter and loyal friend who always put others before herself, as a growing community fundraiser continues to support her three young children following her killing. Makayla Plaza, 28, was killed April 1
KENOSHA, Wis. — Residents dealing with fallen branches and storm debris after Thursday night’s severe weather will be able to take advantage of curbside pickup services offered by the City of Kenosha. City crews from the Department of Public Works and Parks Department are expected to begin surveying impacted neighborhoods in the coming days following the April 2 storms. Residents are being asked
Kenosha Storm of April 3, 2026(Submitted by Reader) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — Strong storms tore through Kenosha County Thursday night, leaving behind downed trees, damaged homes, toppled power lines and thousands of residents without electricity. Many readers sent Kenosha County Eye photos overnight and early Friday morning showing the widespread destruction left behind by the storm. Images submitted to KCE showed large trees
Kenosha Police Chief Pat Patton at Press Conference this Evening(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) Warning: The details in this case are disturbing and may be graphic for some readers. KENOSHA, Wis. — Police held a press conference at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Kenosha Public Museum, where they laid out new details about the murder of Makayla Plaza, the nearly 30-hour
KENOSHA, Wis. — Jake C. Wenzel, 30, of Antioch, Illinois, was charged Tuesday with four new counts of felony bail jumping and four counts of violating jail rules after prosecutors say he repeatedly communicated with Salem woman Savannah Lee Burm while both were locked up in the Kenosha County Detention Center. Wenzel is already facing two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and
Kevin T. Anderson, 43, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man accused of strangling his girlfriend’s daughter’s fiancé and battering another family member during a domestic disturbance was charged Wednesday and given a $5,000 cash bail by Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II. Kevin T. Anderson, 43, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in
Andrew Richardson Farah, 19, of Milwaukee(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 19-year-old Milwaukee man accused of leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase through Kenosha and Racine counties had his bail cut in half Thursday by Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II after originally being wanted on a $40,000 arrest warrant issued last month. Andrew Richardson Farah, 19, of Milwaukee(Kenosha
Jeffery J. Schrock, 47, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) Update 4/3/2026 @ 6:22 p.m.: Attorney Benjamin Schwarz successfully moved to dismiss the child-neglect charge during Schrock’s initial appearance Thursday. Schrock now faces only the remaining counts of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and resisting an officer. KENOSHA, Wis. — A 47-year-old Kenosha man accused of leaving his 10-year-old son home alone while he
Robert J. Schmidt Sr., 53, of Twin Lakes(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. — A Twin Lakes man accused of stealing thousands of dollars in cash, jewelry and mailed checks from an elderly man who allowed him to live in his home for years was given a $7,500 cash bail Thursday by Court Commissioner William Michel II. Robert J. Schmidt Sr., 53,
Ramon Morales, 46, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 46-year-old Illinois man accused of repeatedly stealing roofing materials and shingles from Menards stores had his cash bail reduced Thursday after his arrest Wednesday, while his alleged co-defendant, Juan Zavala Gonzalez, 41, remains at large. Ramon Morales, 46, of Waukegan(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) You must be logged in to view the
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — Two people are dead after a house fire early Thursday morning in the 2500 block of 116th Street in Pleasant Prairie. Police were reportedly the first to arrive at the home, where they found heavy flames coming from the rear of the house. Officers indicated the fire was too intense for them to safely enter the residence without proper
Lorilei L. Barwick, 53, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. — A Kenosha woman accused of stealing more than $2,100 worth of merchandise from Target and Nike over two separate dates was charged Wednesday and given a $2,500 cash bail by Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II. Michel also ordered 53-year-old Lorilei L. Barwick to have no contact with
Kenosha Police Department(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — A 24-year-old Chicago man is wanted in Kenosha County after prosecutors charged him with allegedly using a fake funeral donation scam to try to steal thousands of dollars from shoppers outside two Kenosha stores. Court Commissioner William Michel II issued a $10,000 warrant for Kion E. Harris after charges were
KENOSHA, Wis. — The Kenosha Hometown Heroes Commission is once again seeking nominations for local veterans to be recognized during the second quarter of 2026. The program honors men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces and who have a connection to the City of Kenosha. Eligible nominees must have been born in Kenosha, currently
KENOSHA, Wis. — Kenosha residents will once again be able to drop off brush, branches and compostable materials beginning Monday, April 6, when the city’s Compost/Brush Drop-Off Site reopens for the season. The site, located at 4071 88th Ave., will operate from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The service is available only to City of Kenosha residents and
12 Responses
For someone who was gifted and HAD a thriving salon, it’s disheartening to see this… again.
Addiction is a real thing; and carries an ugly face with a tainted heart and personality.
I pray she can break these chains…
Plus she was a smoke show back in the day. Sad stuff
Worked with her many years ago, then saw her at her own salon. Really sad to see where she is now…she definitely smoked and drank too much for far too long. Thankfully she hasn’t killed anyone.
Wow, the years have not been kind to her. She used to be a very pretty woman.
Enforcement processes in WI are NOT working. She was driving although “4th offense, operating while revoked, failure to install an ignition interlock device,”
Why do judges even make those orders, since the Eye regularly reports noncompliance? Whose car was it? Whose insurance?
Will we keep reading violations until she kills someone and goes to jail, ruining multiple lives, including her own?
What is the solution?
She is driving with no license, and no insurance and non compliant with her IID.
Like tens of thousands of other OWI offenders, her $6k bail was a mere inconvenience. Guaranteed, she will be driving under the influence again before this is all over.
With Christ, anything is possible.
What a loser
alcoholism is a beast and she hopefully has found bottom and can get help while she’s in prison. The states need to have anyone ordered to install ignition interlock to provide some sort of documentation/ proof that it has been installed and not let their probation period begin until it has been verified. fixing this loophole could save a life.
Professional help clearly has not served her well, given that this is a fourth offense.
Perhaps KUSD should hire her as an English teacher, she’s got a lot in common with her buddy Mark.
Great idea! She can be released for the majority of the day to “supervise” kids making a yearbook.
Well she has Rossell as a judge, so she’ll get a slap on the wrist, like all the other drunks.