HUDSON, Wis. — The man convicted in the fatal stabbing of a teen during a violent encounter on the Apple River was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years for that crime, along with lesser sentences for injuring four other victims that will be served at the same time.
Nicolae Miu was convicted by a St. Croix County jury for the murder of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman and the stabbings of four additional victims during the incident, which took place on the river in July 2022. At the time of the verdict, St. Croix County District Attorney Karl Anderson said Wisconsin state statutes call for a recommended sentence of up to 60 years for first-degree reckless homicide, while each of the four first-degree reckless endangerment convictions carries a recommended sentence of 7.5 years in prison plus another five of supervision.
But Wednesday, Judge R. Michael Waterman said a 45-year sentence was at the upper end of his options. After explaining the factors that went into his decision, the judge handed down a sentence of 20 years for the count of first-degree reckless homicide, along with 6 years of supervised release.
Miu was credited for two years already served, meaning he will be 72 years old when eligible for release. Wisconsin no longer allows consideration for parole after a person has served two-thirds of a sentence.
Sentences for the stabbing of four others ranged from 5 to 6 years and will be served concurrently (at the same time) as the homicide sentence.
Waterman said his decision was made to balance the "series of very poor decisions" Miu made that day with the otherwise productive life he has lived and the positive impact he has made on friends and his community. The downward departure represents "punishment for what he did, but that also recognizes who he is and the circumstances of his crimes," Judge Waterman told the courtroom.
Miu was led into a packed St. Croix County courtroom Wednesday morning where family and friends of those stabbed in the river attack are making victim impact statements. First up was Schuman's mother Alina Hernandez, who described Isaac as "a mother's dream," a kind, sensitive and talented human being who stepped in when he saw others in danger.
"He stole Isaac’s life and he stole my life," Hernandez told the courtroom. “I think about him constantly and the way his life was taken. Isaac didn’t die in an accident. He was murdered by a monster.”
"I hope that monster suffers as much as I do every day until he gets to hell,” she added.
Schuman's sister Alexis Hernandez Lang had both District Attorney Karl Anderson and the defendant tearing up during her statement, describing Isaac's lost promise. "He had brains and dreams and looks and it seemed like nothing could stop him, except for the defendant,” she said. “To continue going forward in my healing… I need to know the defendant and I will not share the same air beyond today. I ask for the highest sentence.”
Stabbing victim AJ Martin described embarking on a day with family members and friends he hadn't seen in years, and ending up with lifelong trauma and scars that won't heal after the near-fatal encounter with Miu.
“I was gutted and died for over 9 minutes that day over two separate times,” Martin recalled. “We went over there to help (the teens) and almost died for it.”
“This was without a doubt the worst day of my life,” he concluded.
Ryhley Mattison, who was also stabbed in the violent meeting with Miu, told the court via Zoom that she is unable to go out in public without having severe panic attacks. She described a growing sense of isolation and low energy that impacts her every day.
"In summary, being stabbed by Nic Miu has turned my life upside down," Mattison concluded.
After listening to the statements of his victims, Miu stood and addressed the court while choking back sobs, calling the death of Isaac "tragic and unimaginable."
"I never meant for this tragedy to occur," the defendant said. "My would is broken, my heart is very heavy. And I will never be the same carrying such a heavy burden inside."
"I am hoping that you appreciate how much I am sorry for the outcome of these events," Miu concluded, looking directly at the Schuman family. "I am very sorry."
Miu was on the Apple River with his wife and a group of friends when they encountered a group of younger tubers that included Schuman.
During the trial, both prosecutors and defense attorneys described the incident as alcohol-fueled. Miu claimed he was looking for a friend's lost phone when he walked up to the group of younger tubers. Video from the river captured the teens yelling, accusing Miu of "looking for little girls," and the conflict quickly escalated. A third group became involved in the escalating altercation. Madison Coen and Ryhley Mattison stood close to Miu in the video, and Miu said he "pushed [Coen] away from my face."
Others who were there say Miu actually punched Coen in the face. Several witnesses testified to seeing this interaction or hearing shouts of "he hit a girl," and then additional people gathered around the group, including stabbing victims Tony and Dante Carlson.
Immediately after the initial conflict, the defense says the groups of teens converged, pushing Miu backward into the water and taunting him with names such as "raper" and "pedophile." Once Miu stood up from the water, he took out his knife as seen in the video, though several witnesses said they didn't realize he had a weapon until after he started swinging.
While Miu's defense team said he feared for his life during the encounter and swung his knife in self-defense, the state insisted he had multiple opportunities to walk away and de-escalate the situation.
District Attorney Anderson said the video was important in gaining the convictions, but as crucial was what Miu did - washing and discarding the knife on the riverbank, walking (and not running) back to his group, and not saying a word to them about what just happened. The DA said Miu's lie about the boys pulling knives on him showed he understood the consequences of his actions and knew they weren't committed in self-defense.
"He wasn't afraid, he was angry," Anderson said.