Fond du Lac domestic violence stabbing; man pleads no contest
Fermin Teodoro Lopez-Mendoza
FOND DU LAC, Wis. - Fermin Teodoro Lopez-Mendoza, the man charged in connection to a domestic violence stabbing in Fond du Lac, pleaded no contest to charges of attempted first degree intentional homicide, with a dangerous weapon, and domestic abuse on Nov. 11.
Bond was revoked and a sentencing date has been set for March 18. Lopez-Mendoza faces a maximum penalty of 65 years of confinement and the remaining counts were dismissed and read-in.
Law enforcement learned during their investigation that Lopez-Mendoza is illegally in the United States.
Case details
According to the criminal complaint, deputies were dispatched to a residence near Highway K around 6:30 p.m. on March 22, 2024, to the report of a woman who was stabbed in the stomach. The caller reported the woman was barely conscious and the suspect had fled the scene.
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When deputies arrived, they found the victim on the living room floor with three cuts to the abdomen.
A witness told investigators he was in the basement of the residence when he heard the victim and Lopez-Mendoza fighting. The witness said he became concerned when he heard the victim yell "help me." The witness claims he went upstairs and saw Lopez-Mendoza with a knife, covered in blood. The witness claims Lopez-Mendoza then entered his vehicle and left the scene.
During an interview with detectives, the victim stated an argument led to Lopez-Mendoza stabbing her. She told investigators Lopez-Mendoza grabbed a serrated knife and held it against her throat before stabbing her.
The victim claims there is an extensive history of domestic violence with Lopez-Mendoza. According to the criminal complaint, Lopez-Mendoza had previously said he would "end her life" if she left him.
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Lopez-Mendoz was taken into custody on March 23 during a traffic stop in Ozaukee County.
The complaint indicates there is no known prior record of Lopez-Mendoza and Federal Homeland Security confirmed to the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Office that the defendant is illegally in the United States.