The accused killer given a weak sentence by left-wing Milwaukee Judge Janet Protasiewicz was convicted in a brutal domestic violence attack in which he stomped on, choked, and punched the victim, pulling out clumps of her hair and knocking out a tooth, according to court documents obtained by Wisconsin Right Now.
Had Elijah D. Combs been convicted on all of the original charges in that 2016 case, and given by the max by Protasiewicz, he would not have been on the streets to allegedly murder Aliyah Perez, 26, who was slain on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023.
Instead, Protasiewicz signed off on a plea deal tossing three felony charges, stayed a prison term (meaning he wouldn’t have to serve any of it unless he messed up), and gave Combs probation and 6 months in the House of Correction. She stayed all prison and jail time in a separate felony bail-jumping charge.
Perez was the niece of Milwaukee Common Council President Jose G. Perez. Combs is at large. The victim’s family, in Facebook posts, and a law enforcement source confirmed he is the suspect in Perez’s murder.
Protasiewicz’s actions are only the beginning of the Milwaukee court system’s failure to get Combs off the streets. When accused of third-office OWI and fleeing an officer in early February, he was given a piece of paper and simply told to show up for court, an increasingly common practice in Milwaukee County, where the short-staffed jail won’t accept all offenders anymore.
We requested the criminal complaint through open records laws in the 2016 substantial battery case that Protasiewicz handled. Here is what it says.
We have redacted the victim’s name. If you are or know the victim in this case, however, we would like to talk with you. You can email [email protected] and [email protected].
The complaint says:
“Complainant is a City of Milwaukee Law Enforcement Officer and bases this complaint upon the statement of (the victim) that on the above date at the above place the above named defendant her live in boyfriend looked at her cell phone and became upset.
(The victim) stated that the defendant and she had been out bowling previously. (The victim) stated that after the defendant looked at her cell phone he choked her which prevented her from breathing and talking and slapped her in the face causing her nose to bleed.
(The victim) stated she then went to the bathroom to tend to her nose and the defendant followed her into the bathroom and punched her in the mouth which caused a laceration to her upper lip. The defendant also punched her in the mouth breaking one of (The victim) teeth.
The defendant also punched her in the face causing bruising and swelling. The defendant then strangled her again in the bathroom to the point where she could not breathe or talk. The defendant also pushed and kicked and stomped on (the victim) all over her body. The defendant also pulled Leflore’s hair causing patches of her hair to come out.
After the assault, the defendant ordered (the victim) to clean up the blood that was splattered throughout the area. The defendant told (the victim) to lay with him on the bed. (The victim) stated that the defendant told her she could not leave because her face was so messed up.
(The victim) stated that she complied with the defendant out of fear. (The victim) stated that the assault lasted twenty minutes or so. Leflore stated that the defendant told her he would ‘end it’ if she got the police involved.
(The victim) stated that the believes the defendant will try to kill her.
This complaint is further based upon the statement of (a citizen witness) the cousin of (The victim), that she heard the defendant and (the victim) arguing from another room. (The witness) stated that she and the defendant and (the victim) were out bowling earlier. (The witness) stated that she is the one who called the police.”