Eduardo Ivanez
Body found on south side identified as 15-year-old girl
April 20 2012
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee police say the body of a woman found inside a vacant home near 25th and Rogers on the city’s south side on Friday, April 20th has been identified as 15-year-old Stephanie Romero. Romero had been staying at a group home in Milwaukee. Police say a male suspect has been arrested in Romero’s murder.
[,..]
http://fox6now.com/2012/04/20/milwau...ys-south-side/

Friends remember 15-year-old murder victim, Stephanie Romero
April 25 2012
MILWAUKEE — Friends of 15-year-old Stephanie Romero gathered outside of the vacant home where Romero was murdered (2412 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 complaint says a few days later, Ivanez went back to the home with a friend to move Romero’s bodyinto 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.
[...]
http://fox6now.com/2012/04/25/vigil-...p-m-wednesday/
Stephanie Romero
April 25, 2012
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.
[...]
http://fox6now.com/2012/04/25/milwau...phanie-romero/