Menasha, WI: It is widely believed that you don’t really know someone until you decide to live with them.
That couldn’t have been more true for two Wisconsin roommates who were allegedly attacked after a late-night argument over their so-called “roommate tendencies” escalated from complaints about chores and the thermostat to threats, bloodshed and a trip to the hospital.
Two men, Fernando Alejo-Tiburcio, 21, and Alberto Castillo-Serrano, 22, are now scheduled to be sentenced in September after admitting to charges stemming from the violent confrontation late last year.
According to court documents, the group of roommates had been partying late one night in Menasha, Wisconsin, a city about 100 miles north of Milwaukee, when things took a turn.
The disagreement reportedly centered around the type of menial issues familiar to just about anyone who has ever shared an apartment — the thermostat, internet access and routine daily chores.
At some point during the argument, two of the roommates decided to leave the apartment and get some fresh air. When they returned an hour later, they went into a bedroom together and locked the door.
But apparently, the argument wasn’t over.
Authorities said Alejo-Tiburcio and Castillo-Serrano stood outside the bedroom and allegedly threatened to kill one of the men inside. The pair then physically forced their way through the bedroom door.
What followed was a violent attack that left both men injured, including one victim who suffered serious wounds after being repeatedly cut and stabbed.
“The victim managed to run to another room where he said, ‘They stabbed me,’” according to a media report. He was transported to a hospital, where authorities said doctors discovered 19 cuts to his head, requiring both stitches and staples.
The second victim suffered less serious injuries during the confrontation.
Police were called to the apartment during the chaos, and responding officers reportedly encountered a bloody scene. Investigators discovered blood, tools, and a knife that still had blood on it.
Alejo-Tiburcio and Castillo-Serrano were eventually located barricaded inside another bedroom. Police were able to take both men into custody without further incident.
According to court records, both defendants have since admitted to several charges, including:
- first-degree reckless endangering safety
- aggravated battery intending great bodily harm
- substantial battery
Both men had initially faced a much more serious charge of first-degree intentional homicide, but that charge was ultimately dropped.
Alejo-Tiburcio and Castillo-Serrano are separately scheduled to be sentenced in September.
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Writer and author Eddie Molina has over 25 years of combined LEO and military service. Learn more about his interview articles at www.eddiemolina.com.
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