Prosecutors say a 25-year-old Burlington area man forced his way into a couple’s home on Durand Avenue east of Burlington on May 16 and attacked them, leaving the 76-year-old homeowner bloodied after a prolonged struggle while his 60-year-old wife fought back. The suspect is being held at the Racine County Jail on a $100,000 cash bond.
Charges and Arrest
As reported by FOX6 Milwaukee, court records identify the suspect as 25-year-old Michael Lucy. He is charged with seven felonies, including two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of battery to an elder. Lucy has pleaded not guilty and was bound over for trial. A Racine County deputy took him into custody after finding him inside the home, reportedly covered in blood and mud.
How the Break-in Unfolded
According to court filings, the incident started when one of the homeowners stepped outside to check on a chicken that had wandered from its coop. Prosecutors say that is when the intruder used a shovel to smash a glass pane and get into the house, then rushed the 76-year-old man, choking him and forcing him through several rooms.
The struggle allegedly continued until they ended up in a bathroom, where the couple managed to hold the door shut until deputies arrived. During the fight, the 60-year-old woman reportedly struck the suspect with a rock. The criminal complaint estimates roughly $5,000 in damage to the home.
FOX6 Milwaukee reports that the 76-year-old victim suffered cuts and bruises across his body. According to the station’s summary of court records, Lucy told investigators he did not remember the attack and “seemed surprised” when informed of what allegedly happened. The filings list his blood-alcohol content at 0.188 and note detectable THC and cocaine in his system.
Legal Outlook
Under Wisconsin law, an attempt to commit a crime that is punishable by life in prison, such as first-degree intentional homicide, is itself charged as a Class B felony, which can bring a potential sentence measured in decades. See Wis. Stat. 939.32 and the state’s felony classification tables as summarized on Justia. Court rulings and statutory summaries note that a Class B felony can carry a maximum term of roughly 60 years, and that sentence enhancements for weapons or prior convictions can increase a defendant’s exposure.
The Racine County District Attorney’s Office and Wisconsin circuit court records were cited in the reporting. Prosecutors have not issued a public statement beyond what is contained in the court filings, and the case remains active as it moves through the court system.
