Hudson, Wisconsin – Nicolae Miu, a man charged with stabbing five people during a river tubing excursion in July 2022, has been found guilty of lesser charges in a state court on Thursday. Miu, 54, was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of 17-year-old Isaac Shulman near the Apple River. He was also found guilty of four counts of recklessly endangering safety and one count of battery.
Originally facing more severe charges of first-degree intentional homicide and first-degree intentional attempted homicide, the verdict brings some closure to the tragic incident that occurred during the tubing trip. Apart from the fatal stabbing of Shulman, Miu was also convicted of injuring A.J. Martin, Dante Carlson, Tony Carlson, and Rhyley Mattison, as well as punching Madison Coen in the face.
According to the criminal complaint, the attack unfolded as an “unanticipated random encounter” between Miu and the victims. Miu claimed he stabbed the victims in self-defense after they allegedly stole his property and attacked him, leading to his swift arrest shortly after the incident.
St. Croix County District Attorney Karl Anderson expressed relief over the verdict, acknowledging the tragic nature of the case on many levels. In contrast, Miu’s defense attorney, Aaron Nelson, expressed surprise and disappointment in the outcome.
Following the guilty verdicts, Miu’s bond was revoked, and a sentencing date was not immediately set. Authorities detailed that Miu and his companions were tubing on the river when they became separated as he searched for a lost cell phone, highlighting the chaotic events that transpired during the outing.
The original criminal complaint described a confrontation where Miu brandished a knife when approached by two females, leading to a physical altercation. One victim recounted being punched by Miu, sparking a violent struggle that culminated in Miu falling into the water amidst the chaos. Miu claimed memory loss after being hit and pinned down by the group until he managed to reunite with his wife, as stated in the complaint.