Milwaukee Teens Sentenced in Bizarre Hit-and-Run Death

Anger and sadness filled a Milwaukee County Courtroom as a judge sentenced 19-year-old Troy Tiedke and 17-year-old Dominik Czerwinski on May 6 for their roles in the bizarre events that led to the hit-and-run death of 35-year-old Reeanna Ramazini last November.

According to the criminal complaint, Tiedke, Czerwinski and Czerwinski’s girlfriend Star Boots were driving in an SUV when Tiedke threw a container of soup out the car’s window, landing on a parked car. Unbeknownst to Tiedke, Ramazini’s boyfriend was in the car and gave chase to the trio. After giving chase, the car approached the 1900 block of West Bolivar Avenue where the victim’s father pelted the car with eggs before Ramazini walked out into the road in an attempt to snap a picture of the license plate.

She was then struck by the SUV and died of her injuries. Instead of stopping, Tiedke sped off and hid/washed the SUV at Boots’ grandparent’s property in Franklin. Although it is unclear who uttered it, someone said that “We need to take this to our graves.” Tiedke left town the next day, but later returned to turn himself in.

Tiedke pleaded guilty to one count of hit-and-run involving death and knowingly operating while suspended, causing death. He received a sentence of six years in prison with five years of extended supervision. Czerwinski pleaded guilty to one count of harboring/aiding a felon and received one year in prison and two years of extended supervision.

The sentence length came as a shock to Tiedke’s family as angry mumbling took over the left side of the courtroom. A member of Tiedke’s family uttered “That Prick” under his breath directed at the judge.

Prosecutor Karl Hayes recounted these events to the judge. “The word absurd comes to mind.” Hayes reiterated that Tiedke didn’t mean to strike the victim, but the offenses come in the fact that he left the scene and shouldn’t have been driving in the first place. After speaking, he invited several relatives and friends of Ramazini to speak before the judge.

Ramazini’s mother Linda Ramazini-Zahn couldn’t hold back tears while speaking in front of the judge about the emptiness she feels saying “I’m not a mom anymore.”

Other family members made sure to condemn Tiedke and ask for the maximum sentence amongst the tears of anger and loss. The victim’s cousin Sallie Mclaughlin begged the judge “from one human to another please don’t let them (Czerwinski, Tiedke) off easy.” The victim’s stepfather Lonny Zahn started by saying who his stepdaughter was, a girl who had a heart “as big as this courtroom.” He then continued, “A message needs to be sent that this is not acceptable in society.” Thirty-five-year-old Ramazini didn’t have any children, but leaves behind countless numbers of family and friends that filled the right side of the courtroom.

After the victim’s family spoke, the defense had a chance to speak. Defense attorney Julius Kim, reached an agreement with the prosecutors that prison time was needed as a teaching tool. However, he set out to prove the situation was an accident and that leniency should be given by the judge. Kim argued that the eggs thrown by the victim’s father obscured Tiedke’s vision and caused the collision. He also argued that the victim has expressed remorse for the crime as had his family.

Judge Jeffrey Conen spoke up during Kim’s argument because something in the letters Tiedke’s family sent disturbed him. He said that this is a case built upon remorse and the fact that he didn’t see even a hint of remorse from Tiedke’s family in their letters or even according to the pre-sentence investigation, in Tiedke himself.

After back-and-forth banter between Kim and Conen, Tiedke’s family addressed the court. Tiedke’s mother Nicole Czerwinski was also crying during her speech, as she wanted to attend the candlelight vigil and funeral for Reeanna Ramazini but was instructed not to. She then reiterated that she feels the pain that Ramazini’s family is going through and even turned around to say sorry to the family directly. She then finished by saying that her son is a good kid who made a mistake and hoped the judge would show leniency. Tiedke’s younger sister Maddy also spoke to the judge.

It was then Judge Conen’s turn to rule on the case. He said that he believes based on the evidence that the boys didn’t mean to do it. However, the actions of these young men are the reason they were in the court. He pointed out four issues that had really alarmed him in this case. The fact that they never stopped the car, they hid the vehicle, them uttering about taking the crime to their graves and Tiedke leaving town all contributed to his decision to give Tiedke a six-year stint in prison.

The court took a short recess, and then brought in Czerwinski for his sentencing.

Afterwards, disdain was seen on both sides of the courtroom as Tiedke’s family was clearly upset that lengthy prison sentences were given, while Ramazini’s family and prosecutors felt that the sentences were far too short.