Sentencing Details
A Minnesota man convicted of fatally stabbing a high school student and injuring four others during a tubing trip on the Apple River in western Wisconsin was sentenced on Wednesday to 20 years in prison. Judge R. Michael Waterman also ordered Nicolae Miu, 54, to serve six years of extended supervision after his release.
The Incident
The stabbings occurred in July 2022 along the Apple River in St. Croix County, which borders Minnesota. Miu, of Prior Lake, Minnesota, attacked after being accused by others of approaching children in the water. He claimed he was looking for a lost cellphone using a snorkel and goggles and felt threatened, acting in self-defense.
Charges and Conviction
In April, a jury found Miu guilty of first-degree reckless homicide, four counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, and one count of battery. The fatal stabbing resulted in the death of 17-year-old Isaac Schuman from Stillwater, Minnesota, and left four others wounded.
Judge’s Remarks
Judge Waterman highlighted the severity of Miu’s actions, noting that two of the surviving victims would have died without the swift assistance of other tubers and emergency responders. He stated that all survivors suffered permanent disfigurement and criticized Miu for making “a series of very poor decisions” when confronted with taunts and insults.
“He fled the scene, leaving his victims to die while casually floating by them and emergency workers as if nothing had happened,” Waterman said, pointing out that Miu was arrested while attempting to leave in his car.
Defense and Prosecution Statements
Prosecutors sought a 70-year prison term for Miu. His attorney, Aaron Nelson, asked for a “measured response” in sentencing, acknowledging the “heartbreaking loss” suffered by the Schuman family and other victims.
