Domestic violence homicides: Man, woman charged after 2 women killed in separate incidents in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE -- Two homicides in Milwaukee on Sunday, June 2 involved domestic violence, prosecutors said. A man and woman are each facing reckless homicide charges in separate cases.

In both instances, the suspect and victim were or had been in a relationship with one another. Court documents showed both suspects admitted to the killings.

Near 24th and Becher, Rosa Rivera would die days ahead of her 54th birthday and her wedding, which was supposed to be in July.

24th and Becher in Milwaukee

Luis Mario Ramirez-Oliva

Luis Mario Ramirez-Oliva, 28, Rivera's fiance, strangled her, according to prosecutors. He faces one count of first degree reckless homicide.

Prosecutors said Ramirez-Oliva admitted to police he grabbed her "by the neck for five to six minutes," then tried stabbing himself with a kitchen knife to "join her in death." When that didn't work, prosecutors said Ramirez-Oliva called police.

Rivera was one of two women killed on June 2.

The other homicide happened near 26th and National. Prosecutors said Tawana Eddmonds, 36, stabbed her ex-girlfriend, Cassandra Steward.

A criminal complaint said Eddmonds walked into the police station and admitted to doing it in Steward's apartment building.

Tawana Eddmonds

Eddmonds told police she woke up, washed her hands, changed clothes, and took two TVs that belonged to Steward and sold them for crack cocaine. She smoked the crack and then walked to the area of Milwaukee Police Department's District 5 station -- near Vel R. Phillips and Locust -- to turn herself in.

Carmen Pitre, executive director of the Sojourner Family Peace Center, which works with domestic violence victims, said more must be done.

"What I think about is, how we need to continue to be vigilant about what we do and how we're doing what we do, so that this life was not lost in vain?" Pitre said.

Milwaukee police released the following statement: