Nicolae Miu sentencing in Apple River stabbing: Updates

HUDSON, Wis. (FOX 9) - Nicolae Miu will be sentenced for his role in the Apple River stabbing on Wednesday, July 31. 

Miu was convicted on April 11 of first-degree reckless homicide in the killing of Isaac Schuman, four counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety in the stabbings of A.J. Martin, Dante Carlson, Anthony "Tony" Carlson and Ryhley Mattison, and battery of Madison Coen on the Apple River on July 30, 2022. 

Miu faces up to 97 years in prison, but it's ultimately up to Judge Michael Waterman.

How to watch the sentencing

Miu is scheduled to be sentenced at 8:30 a.m. on July 31. Coverage will begin on FOX9.com and FOX 9's YouTube channel at 8:15 a.m. You can watch the full hearing in the player above. 

Live updates from court

Judge imposes sentence

Waterman said the sentence must match his convictions and the crime. Judge Waterman said Miu made a series of "very poor" decisions but said there is more to Mr. Miu than his worst acts. Waterman said he believes Miu is sorry. Waterman said Miu doesn't need rehabilitation and doesn't have a criminal history. 

"There is a lot more to Mr. Miu than what he did on July 30," Waterman said, noting more goes into what he did at his lowest moment. "Despite the seriousness of Mr. Miu's crimes, the evidence does not show he that poses an imminent risk to the public."

Miu was sentenced to a total of 20 years in prison, with his sentences running concurrently. 

Miu makes a statement in court

Through tears, Miu apologized to Isaac's family and asked the judge for compassion. He said he is sorry for the outcome of events. 

Aaron Nelson, Miu's defense attorney, speaks

Nelson called this a "tragedy." He said Miu has suffered PTSD while being in jail and has shown remorse. Nelson said Miu reacted out of fear. 

"Mr. Miu was, is a good man," Nelson said. 

Nelson said Miu didn't use "the tool," in reference to the knife Miu used in the stabbing, until violence was done to him. 

During Nelson's legal argument for sentencing, Miu shed a couple of tears. 

Nelson said whatever the judge decides, to use his wisdom and craft a sentence that gives the community what they want and that allows Miu to get back out to live some period of his life. 

Karl Anderson, St. Croix County District Attorney, speaks

Anderson said Miu could have avoided all of this — he could have walked away, but he didn't. He held his knife down by his side so no one saw it. Anderson said Miu lied to investigators about what happened on the river that day once law enforcement finally identified him. 

Anderson said Miu's jailhouse phone calls with his brother paint the real picture of how Miu feels about what happened, saying Miu could not accept any personal responsibility. 

"Clearly he is a danger" to the public, Anderson said. 

Anderson said the state is seeking 70 years total in prison to "protect the public." The breakdown Anderson said is 45 years for the murder of Isaac, 24 years for recklessly endangering safety (six years for each victim) and one year for the battery conviction.

Ryhley Mattison, who was stabbed, speaks

Mattison, who spoke via Zoom at the hearing, said every conversation always circles back to the nightmare on the Apple River. She is jumpy, noting hypervigilance is exhausting. Her work is affected because of persistent pain, she is self-conscious, foggy and distant. She has depression and anxiety. 

AJ Martin, who was injured in the stabbing, speaks

AJ Martin was seriously injured in the stabbing. He spoke at the sentencing hearing, saying he was clinging to life with a breathing tube. 

"I was gutted," and died for 9 minutes, he said, noting his scars hurt all the time he's self-conscious of them. 

He said his doctor described his injuries as straight out of a war movie. 

Scott Schuman speaks

Scott Schuman, Isaac's biological father, said Isaac's death left a deep and painful void, and he struggles with PTSD and is in a homicide support group.

Alexis Hernandez, Issac's sister, speaks

Alexis Hernandez, Schuman's sister, said she would do anything to get justice for Schuman, and she is now in weekly therapy. 

Isaac's stepdad speaks

Donny Hernandez, Schuman's stepfather, was second to share a victim impact statement, saying he was a beautiful young man who wanted the best for everyone. 

Isaac's mom Alina Hernandez speaks

During the hearing, Schuman's mother Alina Hernandez was the first to share her victim impact statement. Through tears, she described how her life was forever changed and her heart shattered. She said she regretted letting him go tubing down the Apple River that day, noting he wasn't part of the confrontation until he saw what was happening — he was a peacemaker. She said she hopes the monster suffers every day until he goes to hell.

She asked the judge to sentence Miu to the "fullest."

During Alina Hernandez's testimony, Miu had his head down, slouched and grabbed tissues. 

Apple River stabbing: What happened

According to court records, the stabbing took place on the Apple River near the Sunrise Bridge in Somerset, Wisconsin, which allegedly started after Miu was apparently looking for a friend, Ariel Chaguez Leyet's, cell phone in the river but was confronted by tubers who said he was acting sketchy. 

READ MORE: Key players in Nicolae Miu's trial

The encounter escalated, and another group of tubers came over. He apparently punched Coen on the left side of her face before Miu was punched, eventually leading to the stabbing.

Witnesses began calling 911 at 3:47 p.m. on July 30, 2022, which indicated there were potentially four or five victims with wounds to the mid to upper body. 

READ MORE: Timeline of what happened

Martin, Anthony Carlson, Dante Carlson and Mattison were injured in the attack, but 17-year-old Schuman died from his injuries.   

Miu claimed the attack was self-defense. He said he was "so fearful" for his safety, adding he wasn't sure what the people in the river were going to do to him, and "everything happened so fast," charging documents said. 

Miu was convicted of the following charges: 

• First-degree reckless homicide of Schuman
• First-degree recklessly endangering safety of Martin
• First-degree recklessly endangering safety of Dante Carlson
• First-degree recklessly endangering safety of Tony Carlson
• First-degree recklessly endangering safety of Mattison
• Battery of Coen