KENOSHA, Wis. — Marckus Plaza, 33, of Kenosha, appeared in court Monday afternoon for the first time since prosecutors accused him of brutally killing his estranged wife, Makayla Rutka-Plaza, 28, inside their Kenosha home while two of their young sons were present.

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Liberal Activist Supplemental Court Commissioner Aileen “Half-Off” Henry presided over the hearing after Court Commissioner William “Bargain Bail Billy” Michel II was absent from court. Michel’s absence quickly became a topic of discussion because it came on the same day Plaza’s permanent bail was set and only weeks after Michel denied Makayla Rutka-Plaza’s restraining order request against Plaza.

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Some speculated Michel did not want to face the victim’s family or the public scrutiny surrounding his prior decision. Of course, it is possible Michel was legitimately ill or had a preplanned vacation, but many privately questioned whether he wanted to avoid one of the most emotionally charged hearings Kenosha County has seen in years.

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Henry raised Plaza’s cash bail from the temporary $750,000 warrant signed by Judge Heather Iverson to $2 million cash. Many observers had believed the original $750,000 figure was far too low considering the allegations and the severity of the injuries described in the amended criminal complaint.

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Plaza is due back in court on May 8 for a competency hearing after defense attorney Benjamin Schwarz raised concerns about his competency. Prosecutor Sarah Norkus appeared on behalf of the state Monday.

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Prosecutors also filed an amended criminal complaint Monday adding two felony counts of causing mental harm to a child, along with misdemeanor charges of entering a locked building and obstructing an officer. Plaza now faces one count of first-degree intentional homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and domestic abuse modifiers, two counts of causing mental harm to a child, one count of entry into a locked building and one count of obstructing an officer.

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According to prosecutors, Kenosha police were called to the family’s home in the 7400 block of 22nd Avenue shortly after 6:20 a.m. on April 1 after a friend of Makayla Rutka-Plaza called 911. The friend said she had been on the phone with Makayla when Plaza arrived to pick up the children and became physical with her. The friend reportedly heard Makayla say “get off of me” and told officers there had been a history of domestic violence.

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When officers arrived, Plaza answered the door but falsely identified himself as “Allen” before denying that Makayla was inside the home. Officers then moved to the rear of the residence, where one officer looked through a basement window and saw Plaza dragging Makayla’s body. Plaza fled over a fence behind the home before officers forced entry into the house.

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Inside the basement, officers found Makayla Rutka-Plaza dead. She was wearing only a bra and underwear and had suffered devastating injuries. Police said a knife handle was protruding from her left eye, with only a small portion of the blade still visible because it had been driven so deeply into her head. Officers also observed that her face appeared badly beaten. Her 2-year-old son was found nearby crying and covered in blood.

One of the couple’s young sons later told investigators at the Children’s Advocacy Center that “my mama’s dead” and said “my dad do it.” The child reportedly told investigators that Plaza used a knife and “struck it in her forehead.” The child also said he yelled “call the police” during the attack. The younger child was not formally interviewed because of his age, but investigators documented blood splatter on his sweatshirt, shoes and body.

Investigators say Plaza contacted multiple people after fleeing, asking for rides from the area near Salon Suites by Hair Unlimited on 75th Street. He also texted his employer shortly after the homicide, claiming he could not come to work because both children were sick and he was sick as well. Witnesses and surveillance footage tracked Plaza moving through neighborhood yards while covered in blood. Blood was found on fences, a gate and in multiple areas where he was seen hiding.

A friend of Makayla also gave police a recording of a phone call she made while the attack was unfolding. In the recording, Makayla can allegedly be heard screaming, apologizing and pleading for Plaza to stop. According to investigators, Makayla repeatedly said “I’m sorry” and “I love you,” while Plaza responded, “It’s too late for that.” The audio eventually went silent.

Police ultimately found Plaza hiding in the basement of Salon Suites by Hair Unlimited at 2300 75th St. on April 2. Chief Patrick Patton, Deputy Chief Brent Sagedal, Inspector Aaron Dilhoff and Lt. Adam Jurgens were all involved in the arrest. Officers found Plaza curled into a ball behind cabinets in the basement while holding a knife. During the struggle, police said Plaza stabbed himself in the neck before officers took him into custody.

While at the hospital after his arrest, Plaza allegedly asked whether his children were “in the system” and said they deserved “good parents.” At another point, he allegedly told an officer, “Hey tough guy, why don’t you just shoot me.”

Kenosha Police detectives were also in court Monday and obtained a court order requiring Plaza to provide a DNA sample. Detectives executed the warrant after the hearing.

Investigators also uncovered evidence suggesting Plaza may have planned the encounter in advance. Two separate witnesses told police Plaza called them the night before the killing asking if they could watch his children the next morning. One witness told police Plaza had been upset that Makayla was seeing another man and that “he snapped.”

An autopsy found Makayla suffered seven stab wounds, including wounds to her left eye, right cheek, neck, chest, abdomen and breast. She also suffered blunt force injuries, cuts to her hands and face, bruising, abrasions and injuries to her mouth and ear area. The fatal wound was a stab wound to the upper right chest that injured her aorta and caused massive internal bleeding. The knife found lodged in her eye measured 13 inches long, with an 8-inch blade.

Police also filed a separate misdemeanor case against Plaza on Monday stemming from incidents involving Makayla Rutka-Plaza and her boyfriend before the homicide. Prosecutors charged Plaza with posting sexually explicit images without consent, disorderly conduct while armed and misdemeanor battery. In that case, Plaza was given a $2,500 cash bail. According to the complaint, Plaza is accused of posting nude images of Makayla’s boyfriend to Snapchat without consent and later punching him in the face and threatening him with a knife during a confrontation inside the home in February.

If convicted on all counts, Plaza faces life in prison plus decades of additional prison exposure on the child abuse and other charges.