Waukesha man sentenced to life in prison for killing neighbor, hiding body in woods
CBS 58 WAUKESHA, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A jury found 63-year-old Kevin Lychwick guilty in June after a turbulent trial, where he represented himself. On Thursday, Aug. 20, Lychwick was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for killing 55-year-old Carlos Maldonado in 2024.
Kevin Lychwick
In court on Thursday, Aug. 20, Maldonado's family members and the judge had strong words for Lychwick about his character, especially as he defended himself during trial.
Prosecutors said Lychwick shot Maldonado twice in the torso and the face and wrapped his body in a tarp -- hiding it in the woods behind their shared apartment complex. Maldonado's remains were found months later by a maintenance worker.
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge David Maas and prosecutors cited a mountain of evidence proving Lychwick was responsible, including video of him on the scene, a gun matching the bullets that killed Madonado in his car, and most notably, a handwritten hitlist in his apartment titled "Operation Slop Shop" bearing Maldonado's name, listed as a "threat" that had been "neutralized."
Despite all of this, Lychwick continuously claimed he was innocent, alleging he was framed by police and didn't know Maldonado. He had several outbursts in court throughout the jury trial and Thursday's sentencing, even as Maldonao's family shared their heartbreak in emotional statements to the judge.
"At no time have I ever killed anyone, nor did I have any part in the tragedy that befalled the decedent, Mr. Maldonado," said Lychwick.
"The stunts that you have pulled are the last ditch efforts of someone who recognizes that their reckoning is coming, and today, Mr. Lychwick, you are out of stunts, you are out of tricks, you are out of carnival acts. Today your reckoning has come," said Judge David Maas.
Judge Maas referred to Lychwick as a narcissist before sentencing to life without the possibility for parole.
Lychwick made it clear he plans to appeal.
Judge Maas ordered the media to not show Maldonado's family on camera in court; they chose not to speak to media after the sentencing.
