On Wednesday, Nicolae Miu, 54, received a 20-year prison sentence for the tragic stabbing of a 17-year-old and injuring four others during a river tubing trip in Wisconsin in 2022, according to officials.
On Wednesday, a Wisconsin judge handed down a 20-year prison sentence to a man who fatally stabbed a teenager and wounded four others during a violent incident at a well-known river tubing location two years ago.
Nicolae Miu, a 54-year-old from Prior Lake, Minnesota, faced charges in 2022 for the tragic stabbing death of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman from Stillwater, Minnesota. Miu was accused of first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Schuman and four counts of recklessly endangering safety for injuring four others accompanying Schuman. In April, Miu was convicted on all charges.
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On Wednesday, Nicolae Miu, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, bowed his head as Judge R. Michael Waterman of St. Croix County District Court delivered his 20-year sentence. Miu has been incarcerated since the 2022 incident and will face an additional six years of extended supervision following his release from prison.
The sentencing came just a day after the second anniversary of the stabbing incident on July 30, 2022. According to a criminal complaint filed in St. Croix County, the scene was chaotic and bloody. Miu had brandished a knife during a confrontation with a group of young people at the Apple River—a favorite spot for tubing and camping near Minneapolis, which flows into the St. Croix River in Wisconsin.
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Surveillance footage showed Mr. Miu, wearing only a snorkel and no shirt, advancing towards a group of young people. The video also depicted the group urging him to ‘back off,’ as outlined in the court records.
According to witness statements and interviews, Mr. Miu was harassing a group of teenagers floating on tubes. As the situation escalated, the group began calling out for assistance from others drifting down the river.
Reports indicate that as another group tried to intervene, Mr. Miu assaulted a woman from that group. After being struck by a man, he fell into the river and then reportedly began attacking several people nearby with a three-inch silver knife.
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Mr. Miu claimed to authorities that he was defending himself and believed someone in the group might have taken his lost phone.
Following the attack, court documents describe how the river’s water turned reddish in spots due to the significant amount of blood.
Isaac Schuman, who was on the cusp of starting his senior year of high school and had dreams of becoming an electrical engineer, was remembered by his family at the sentencing. His mother, Alina Hernandez, shared her sentiments during the proceedings.
Ms. Hernandez expressed her profound grief, saying, “Isaac is on my mind constantly, every single day.” She continued, “The loss of my son has left me utterly heartbroken and devastated.”
At the hearing, prosecutors advocated for a 70-year sentence, breaking it down to 45 years for the murder, six years for each of the four stabbings, and an additional year for the battery charge.
Karl Anderson, the District Attorney for St. Croix County, emphasized in court that a substantial prison term is warranted. “The brutality and horror of this incident are difficult to fully convey,” Anderson remarked.
Aaron Nelson, Mr. Miu’s attorney, advocated for a sentence that would enable Miu to be released at some point in his life, arguing for a more lenient outcome.
In a phone interview, Mr. Nelson expressed his belief that the severity of the sentence was excessive. He remarked, “I don’t think such a harsh punishment was warranted.” Nonetheless, he acknowledged the judge’s decision, stating, “I understand the reasons behind the sentence that was handed down.”
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