White faces upgraded charge of attempted first-degree intentional homicide

An Amended Criminal Complaint filed April 23, 2026, in Lincoln County Circuit Court has upgraded the charges against Julia L. White, 43, of Merrill, in connection with the March 27 stabbing of a male victim at her home at 200 East Street. White now faces a total of three charges, the most serious being one count of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, which carries a prison term of up to 60 years upon conviction.
As previously reported, White had initially been charged with first-degree reckless injury and battery-bodily harm following the incident, in which a male victim, believed to be White’s boyfriend, was stabbed at her residence and staggered approximately one block to S&S Bar, where he collapsed. Those two charges remain in the Amended Complaint. The new, most serious charge was filed by Lincoln County District Attorney’s Office following further investigation, including receipt of the victim’s medical records and a forensic interview of a minor child witness.

Victim’s injuries
Medical records received by law enforcement confirmed the severity of the victim’s injuries. According to the Amended Criminal Complaint, the victim was diagnosed with a penetrating chest trauma/stab wound to the left anterior chest, with internal lacerations to the left lung and left ventricle of the heart, among several other related diagnoses. While still conscious and prior to being intubated at the hospital, the victim told the responding officer that White had stabbed him in the chest with a kitchen knife and that he had walked to the bar for help. He was unable to provide further details before being intubated.

Forensic interview of minor child witness
A forensic interview of a minor child of White’s was conducted on April 8, 2026. (Note: the Amended Complaint lists the date of this interview as April 8, 2024, which appears to be a typographical error, as the incident itself occurred in 2026.) According to the Complaint, the child described hearing shouting and screaming from another part of the residence and came out to observe what was happening. The child stated the two were fighting with their hands and choking each other, and then advised that only White was doing the choking. The child stated that White grabbed a knife from the kitchen, that the man went outside, and that White followed and stabbed him. The child confirmed witnessing the stabbing and described the knife as light blue. The child advised that after the incident, White had a drink and watched television before the child went back to sleep.

Reminder of previous findings
As previously reported, when officers arrived at White’s residence following the blood trail from S&S Bar, they noted the odor of cleaning supplies and found cleaning supplies out in the open. White’s clothing appeared to have dried blood on them. White did not report the stabbing to law enforcement. She told officers the two had gotten into a verbal and then physical altercation and that the victim had grabbed her by the neck. She acknowledged striking him, but claimed she had only poked him in the chest with two fingers and did not mention a knife.
White’s adult daughter, who was present at the residence that evening, had previously told police she saw the victim choking White, that White armed herself with a kitchen knife and told the victim to get out, and that she then went to the basement. She came back upstairs approximately 10 minutes later and found White in the kitchen crying, but did not provide further details.

Bond and release conditions
White has since posted a $10,000 cash bond and signed a $40,000 signature bond and has been released from custody, subject to a number of conditions. She is to have no contact with the victim or his family and may not go within 500 feet of any residence or premises occupied by the victim. White must maintain absolute sobriety and is prohibited from consuming or possessing alcoholic beverages, illegal controlled substances, or non-prescribed prescription drugs. She may not enter any establishment where the primary purpose is the sale of alcohol, and she may not possess any dangerous weapons.

Legal representation and judicial substitution
White has retained attorneys Tim Osicka and Frederick Melms of Melms Law in Eagle River to represent her in the matter. Additionally, White requested and was granted a substitution of judge; Judge Jessica Fehrenbach will now preside over the case in place of Judge Galen Bayne-Allison, who heard the initial proceedings.
This case has not been concluded. Unless a judgment of conviction is entered, White is presumed innocent of all charges.