Kevin Lychwick, a 62-year-old retired Air Force veteran from Waukesha, declared his not guilty plea in court on Monday, facing charges for first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse. Following the grim discovery of Carlos Maldonado's remains in October, Lychwick was tagged as a top suspect and subsequently apprehended in December. Notably, Maldonado, aged 56, had gone missing since mid-April. His corpse was eventually located, concealed in a tarp in a wooded area near Frame Park, according to a WTMJ report.
The bond for Lychwick remains a staggering $5,000,000, as he stands accused of a particularly heinous crime. His apprehension was a result of intensive police work and conclusive evidence discovered during multiple search warrants carried out on his property and vehicle. Police shared that the gun found in Lychwick's possession matched the rounds that caused Maldonado's demise, as noted in WISN coverage. The case took a darker turn with the unearthing of a so-called "hit list", with Maldonado featured as the foremost target, Waukesha Police added.
A key part of the evidence was a "hit list" found in Lychwick's apartment, which included the remark "Operation Starling can commence. Since Operation Snapshot has been completed". Detective Benjamin Stern, in response to a prosecutor's query during court proceedings, confirmed the interpretation of the list as a hit list. This detail adds a premeditated and chilling dimension to the crime, implying possible future targets, according to FOX6 News.
Detective Stern also testified about finding various objects in Lychwick's apartment that could be tied to the murder, such as black silk pillowcases, ammunition, zip ties, and scissors. Moreover, during a traffic stop, officials recovered items from Lychwick's car that included a shovel and latex gloves, WISN 12 News Zoie Henry reported. While definitive motives for the crime or the relationships among the individuals involved remain clouded, the investigation continues, as Lychwick awaits his court date set for February 7, 2025.
