APPLETON, WI -- Formal charges have been filed against a woman in connection with the death of her husband.
Court records show 34 year old Tina Hafeman faces one felony count of First Degree Intentional Homicide, along with a domestic violence enhancer.
She made her initial appearance in Outagamie Co. court today, in front of a packed courtroom. Before starting, the judge ordered that the crowd remain "silent" during the hearing, anticipating an emotional hearing.
35 year old Chad Hafeman died at the hospital from stab wounds Friday morning, after police were called to the Hafeman's duplex along the 900 block of Durkee Street and discovered him inside, covered in blood. Tina Hafeman faces life in prison if convicted of the crime.
Tonight, prosecutors say Hafeman's children are all considered witnesses to the stabbing death of their father.
According to the criminal complaint, Tina and Chad had been drinking at Appleton bars for hours, celebrating Chad's raise at work, before returning home at bar close. The complaint also highlights that, before police were called, Tina Hafeman turned to her family for help.
The complaint says, the Hafemans share the duplex with their six children--ages 5 to 16--along with Tina's brother, Daniel.
Early Friday morning, Daniel says he woke up to pounding on his door, and found Tina crying, who allegedly said "it looked bad" before handing him a bloody steak knife.
Police say Tina had "blood stains on her clothes... pants, and hands," but no injuries.
"She has some criminal convictions," mentions District Attorney Carrie Schneider after court today, "I'm going to tell you, there's history of the victim having some criminal convictions, too."
Schneider also revealed that all six of the children were home during the violent ordeal.
"The youngest--a 5-year-old--describes what he saw, and what he heard," says Schneider, "in very close proximity when this was occurring."
That same child, according to the complaint, was reported telling police he saw Tina hit Chad "really hard" in the stomach, and that Chad was "coughing" with "blood on his... shirt".
"They're with people they know," says Schneider. "That's what I can say."
The judge also agreed to granting prosecution's "no contact" request between Hafeman and her children, unless deemed appropriate by a counselor.
"So, the kids would have to come here, to the jail, to go upstairs, and meet with a social worker," says Hafeman, "and then meet with Tina."
Bail has been set at half a million dollars.
The judge also ordered Hafeman have no contact with any other family member other than a supervised phone call to her mother. Her next court date is June 8th.
If convicted, Hafeman could spend the rest of her life behind bars.
