Milwaukee man charged with homicide in connection to woman found dead in car

Jerrod Stewart (credit: Milwaukee County Jail), Tomitka Stewart (credit: Family)

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 41-year-old Milwaukee man has been formally charged in connection with the homicide of his wife, Tomitka Stewart.

Jerrod Stewart is facing one count of first-degree reckless homicide and felony bail jumping. 

Family members told CBS 58, Tomitka Stewart was a mother of 10 children, ranging in age from three to 22 years old. Her oldest child, Lawrence Lejon-Jurnatt, said his mother had been a victim of domestic abuse for years.

Tomitka was reported missing by Milwaukee police on April 14 and then days later, she was found dead inside the trunk of a vehicle near 29th and Ruby. 

According to a criminal complaint, Tomitka suffered 49 stab wounds and her cause of death was ruled a homicide. 

Investigators used surveillance video and reviewed the tracking history of Jerrod Stewart's GPS monitoring device to place him at the scene of where Tomitka's body was found.

A witness, according to the complaint, said in the past Jerrod Stewart had threatened to kill Tomitka. 

Authorities traveled to Minnesota on April 18 to interview Jerrod Stewart. There, according to the complaint, Jerrod admitted he had contact with Tomitka on April 15, but when shown a picture of her vehicle, he allegedly denied knowledge of it. 

On Sunday, May 12, Steward appeared in court. His bond was set for one million dollars.