May 2, 2009, began like any other day in Wauw, a small town in Wisconsin. But by the afternoon, fear gripped the community. The body of a teenage girl was found murdered in her apartment. This shocking crime left everyone worried they might be the next victim.
The victim, Brianna Schneller, was found by her boyfriend’s brother, Hugo Ramirez. She had severe throat wounds and cuts all over her body. Despite the brutal attack, cash and valuables were left untouched in her apartment, puzzling the detectives further.
Brianna, a high school student, worked part-time as a waitress. She was described by her parents, Craig and Lori, as a normal teenager who loved shopping, dancing, and music. She was looking forward to a trip to Tennessee that summer for an important project presentation.
Her relationship with her boyfriend, 22-year-old Sebastian Ramirez, was good. They had been inseparable since they met. Brianna’s parents were initially worried when she decided to move in with Sebastian at 18, but they accepted her decision because they saw how much he loved her.
The timeline of the crime was narrowed down by her mother. Lori had spoken with Brianna around 10:00 a.m. before taking her car to the auto shop. Hugo found Brianna’s body at 1:30 p.m. This meant the attack happened between 10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
The crime scene was horrific. Blood was everywhere, and Brianna’s face was covered with a towel. She had deep wounds on her neck and torso, indicating she fought for her life. The police found several clues, including a bloodied iron and two knives in the bathroom sink. There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing seemed to be missing from the apartment.
The autopsy confirmed that Brianna had fought for her life. The killer’s DNA was likely under her nails. The brutality of the attack suggested the killer had uncontrollable rage. Detectives wondered who could harbor such strong feelings toward Brianna.
Sebastian and Hugo were initially questioned. Sebastian had a solid alibi; he was at work from 10:15 a.m. until he received the call about Brianna. Hugo also had a similar alibi, confirmed by surveillance footage from their workplace, El Tequila Salsa Restaurant.
However, the investigation took a turn when Brianna’s phone was found in a dumpster near the restaurant. The phone was located in a bag from the restaurant, indicating the killer might be someone connected to the place.
The police questioned Luciano Sanchez Ramos, a dishwasher at the restaurant who lived in the same building as Brianna. His DNA was collected, but his alibi was confirmed by a colleague, Raul, who gave him a ride to work.
Raul’s story caught the detectives’ attention. Surveillance footage showed him leaving the restaurant at 10:21 a.m. to pick up Luciano and returning at 10:56 a.m. Notably, he left wearing a brown hoodie but returned without it. Raul had fresh cuts on his hands, which he explained were from working with knives.
The police searched Raul’s home and found a glove that matched the one found in the dumpster, a sweatshirt with hair matching Brianna’s, and several pairs of women’s underwear. Raul was detained and charged with Brianna’s murder.
During the trial, Raul changed his story, trying to pin the crime on another colleague, Sergio Juarez Gutierrez. However, Sergio had a solid alibi; he was in Mexico taking care of his sick father at the time of the murder.
The jury found Raul guilty of first-degree murder, robbery, and theft. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. Brianna’s father, Craig, expressed his desire to speak with Raul to understand why he killed his daughter, but Raul refused to meet.
The tragic murder of Brianna Schneller was a heartbreaking case for her family and the community of Wauw. While justice was served, the loss of a young, vibrant life left a lasting impact on all who knew her.
