A quiet Kenosha neighborhood is reeling after a 37-year-old woman, identified by authorities as Stephanie Birn, was found dead inside a home on Saturday, April 25. Police say the discovery came shortly after reports of an altercation near 13th Avenue and 57th Street, where officers found a 41-year-old man with serious injuries and detained a 42-year-old man who was trying to leave the scene.
What police say
According to the Kenosha Police Department, officers were called around 3:30 p.m. on April 25 to the 5700 block of 13th Avenue after a 911 caller reported an altercation between two adult men. Responding officers detained 42-year-old Dale Dallia, provided medical aid to a 41-year-old man, and then located 37-year-old Stephanie Birn deceased inside the residence.
Detectives and patrol officers are now processing evidence, interviewing witnesses, and canvassing the neighborhood while they consult with the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, according to WGTD.
Victim and neighborhood reaction
FOX6 News Milwaukee reported that Birn was a mother who leaves behind an 11-year-old son. Friend Karyn Pedraza told the station she has been “crying for three days now,” and remembered Birn as someone who “loved fiercely,” a sentiment that has echoed among shocked neighbors watching squad cars and crime scene tape replace their usual Saturday routines.
Investigation, charges and local context
CBS Chicago reports the detained man is being held on a probation hold while detectives work with the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office on possible charges. That office has recently faced scrutiny over a growing felony backlog and staffing shortages, as a local report on how criminal cases pile up points out, a situation officials say can stretch out prosecution timelines for even the most serious cases.
How to help
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Kenesie at 262-605-5277 or the Kenosha Police Department Detective Bureau at 262-605-5203, according to the department's release posted by WGTD. Authorities are specifically urging anyone with video or tips to come forward to help piece together what happened inside the home.
As of the latest update, no formal charges have been announced, CBS Chicago reported. Police say they will share more details with the public as detectives and prosecutors make charging decisions.
