STEPHANIE ROMERO - 15 yo/ Convicted: Eduardo Ivanez - Milwaukee WI

Teen sentenced to life for killing 15-year-old girl

By Bruce Vielmetti of the Journal Sentinel
Jan. 10, 2013

An 18-year-old Milwaukee man was sentenced Thursday to life in prison for the brutal death of 15-year-girl and hiding her body in a crawl space of an abandoned south side house.

Eduardo Ivanez won't be eligible to seek parole until he's 70 under the sentence imposed by Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Jeffrey Wagner.

A jury convicted Ivanez in October of first-degree intentional homicide for the death of Stephanie Romero in April. He also was found guilty of hiding a corpse.

According to the criminal complaint, Ivanez, who was 17 at the time, and Romero went to a vacant house in the 2500 block of W. Rogers St., where they and others regularly smoked marijuana. But when some other friends went to the house the evening of April 13, they found Romero on the floor bleeding from the mouth. Ivanez said he'd just had sex with Romero. He grabbed her neck and stomped on her, before one friend helped him carry Romero to a bathroom, where Ivanez then stabbed her.

Two days later, Ivanez returned to vacant house and moved Romero's body to a crawl space. The victim was discovered there April 20.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/crime/sentence11-nv8av6m-186368311.html

Eduardo Ivanez charged with murder of Stephanie Romero

Posted on: 11:28 am, April 25, 2012
updated on: 09:45pm, April 25, 2012
by Myra Sanchick

MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee man now faces two charges in connection with the murder of 15-year-old Stephanie Romero. Romero was found dead inside a home near 25th and Rogers on the city’s south side on Friday, April 20th.

17-year-old Eduardo Ivanez faces two charges — first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse.

The criminal complaint in this case indicates Ivanez, also known as “Smokey,” lived just two doors from where Romero was found dead. Many of the details in the complaint are far too graphic to be included in this story.

Officers interviewed several people about what led to Romero’s death. The complaint indicates Ivanez was with Romero on Friday, April 13th and had sexual relations with Romero and later “squeezed her throat with both hands for approximately two minutes, choking her.” The witness statement says because Romero was still breathing, Ivanez and another person dragged her to a bathroom.

The complaint then says “Smokey then went to the living room and obtained a knife from the victim’s black leather purse…it was a wooden handled knifed with a bent blade. Smokey then got on top of the victim and stabbed her once in the neck and then stabbed her in the left eye.”

A couple of days later, the complaint indicates Ivanez wanted to move Romero’s body. He and another person took the body upstairs to a crawl space. The person with Ivanez was “touching and feeling on her breasts…because he was kind of bored.”

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner performed an autopsy on the body of Romero. He determined the cause of death as strangulation. However, the autopsy also showed Romero suffered cuts, abrasions and other blunt forces injuries.

Stuffed animals, candles and balloons were placed in front of the house where Romero was found dead Wednesday. Her friends shared memories of Stephanie.

“She was smart, really funny. She knew how to make everybody smile. She gave the most sincerest hugs,” said Alanis Skenandore, Stephanie’s best friend.

If convicted of these charges, Ivanez faces up to life in prison.

FOX6 News has calls into the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office to learn whether charges for any other individuals involved in this case are imminent.

http://fox6now.com/2012/04/25/milwaukee-man-charged-with-murder-of-15-year-old-stephanie-romero/

Friends remember 15-year-old murder victim, Stephanie Romero

Posted on: 3:06 pm, April 25, 2012
updated on: 06:04pm, April 25, 2012
by Jenna Sachs

MILWAUKEE — Friends of 15-year-old Stephanie Romero gathered outside of the vacant home where Romero was murdered (2512 W. Rogers St.) Wednesday night, April 25th to remember the girl.

The vigil was organized by one of Romero’s best friends, Alanis Skenadore. “We love her, and we’re gonna miss her, and she’s in a better place now,” Skenadore said.

Friends showed love for a girl who sometimes felt unloved. The Bradley Tech High School sophomore slept at a group home or at friend’s houses and sometimes, on the streets. “She had a family, but she used to always tell me she never felt understood, so she did what she did, when she wanted, however she wanted, and it lands you in places where you don’t want to be, but what can you do?” Skenadore said.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner says Romero died from strangulation. But she also suffered numerous cuts, abrasions and other blunt force injuries.

A Milwaukee man is now charged in the case. 17-year-old Eduardo Ivanez faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide in the case and hiding a corpse. If convicted he faces up to life in prison.

The criminal complaint in the case says Ivanez and Romero went to the vacant home on April 13th to have sex and later, Ivanez strangled Romero and stabbed her in the neck and head.

The complaint says a few days later, Ivanez went back to the home with a friend to move Romero’s body into an upstairs crawl space. Ivanez lived just two houses away.

Joanne Ritchie lives right in between the house where Romero’s body was found and Ivanez’ home. “He sat here and chilled with us and talked with us in depth. He seemed like a good kid, he really did. He was living with his sister and he was watching his sister’s kids, and I just thought he was a nice kid. To see his picture and that he did this, no, that’s scary,” Ritchie said.

Romero’s friends say they don’t know Ivanez but they hope he’s prosecuted. “It’s hard, but we gotta do what we gotta do. Stay strong and smile for her,” Skenadore said.

http://fox6now.com/2012/04/25/vigil-for-stephanie-romero-set-for-7-p-m-wednesday/