MILWAUKEE, WI – What began as a Thursday evening in a quiet Milwaukee apartment quickly turned into a scene filled with horror and heartbreak, as a woman’s attempt to walk away from conflict cost her everything.
Amanda Varisco, 44, was found dead on her apartment floor, unresponsive and not breathing, after a violent confrontation with Mile Dukic, the 39-year-old man she shared her home with. Police say the discovery was made after frantic text messages sent Varisco’s daughter racing to check on her mother.
Authorities responded to urgent calls Thursday night when Varisco’s daughter and her boyfriend, shaken by disturbing messages, tried desperately to reach her. According to investigators, Dukic had sent the daughter a chilling admission: he had killed her mother. Dukic’s messages reportedly tried to justify his actions, citing arguments over respect and jealousy sparked by Varisco’s phone call with another man.
When the couple arrived at the apartment and pleaded for entry, Dukic allegedly refused to let them in, telling them, “I already told you she’s gone.” Only when police arrived did Dukic open the door. Officers entered a grim scene: Varisco was on the floor, her life already extinguished.
An initial attempt by police to revive Varisco proved futile—she had already succumbed to her injuries. The medical examiner later determined that she suffered 22 stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, along with several defensive wounds on her hands and arms, painting a picture of a desperate fight for survival.
In the aftermath, Dukic openly admitted to the violence during a police interview. He described a relationship that was not strictly romantic, but frequently sexual. According to the complaint, the fatal argument began when Dukic saw Varisco on the phone with another man and preparing to leave. He recounted striking Varisco repeatedly with his fists until she lost consciousness, then arming himself with a knife and stabbing her multiple times.
Investigators noted that Dukic, who was already facing felony charges for stalking and was out on bail, reportedly told officers, “I didn’t want to do it.” Nonetheless, detectives found that Varisco’s desire to leave was met with chilling brutality.
Dukic now faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide as well as two counts of bail jumping, since his earlier cases remain open. He appeared before a judge Tuesday and remains in custody at the Milwaukee County Jail. His next court date on the outstanding charges is scheduled for March 10.
Outside the courthouse, Varisco’s family is left to grapple with the sudden vacuum left by a beloved mother and grandmother. A fundraising campaign has been launched to help cover funeral costs, while loved ones pay tribute to the woman they lost to such senseless violence. Varisco is remembered as a mother to four and a grandmother to five—a family now united in grief.
As legal proceedings move forward, the community waits for justice in a case that has shaken so many who knew Varisco, and echoes yet another stark reminder of the dangers of domestic violence.