APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The suspect in a murder at the Fox River Mall made his initial appearance in Outagamie County court Monday.
Dezman Ellis, 17, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide for allegedly shooting Jovanni Frausto. A bystander was also injured. Ellis was arrested in Iowa last week, and brought back to Wisconsin.
Before the commissioner addressed bond, Frausto’s mother, Tanya Lopez, urged that Ellis not be allowed out of custody.
“I don’t think he should have a bond at all. I think there should be no bond. He took my son from me. He clearly knew what he was doing, and he did it. He needs to sit in there. My son can’t come home. I can never see my son again. I think he should be sitting there and not getting out, not seeing the daylight at all,” she said. “I’m planning my son’s funeral right now. There should be no bond.”
Defense attorney Eric Heywood asked for a $50,000 cash bond, noting Ellis attends schools, has a job, and no adult criminal records. Outagamie County District Attorney Melinda Tempelis asked for an unspecified “significant” bond, noting the crime and fleeing to Iowa.
Bail was set at $1.5 million cash by Court Commissioner Brian Figy. A preliminary hearing was not immediately set.
Prosecutors say Ellis shot Frausto during a dispute over a girlfriend. He fled the scene and was eventually arrested in Iowa.
In Wisconsin, 17-year-olds are considered adults for the purpose of criminal court.
