Police say Stephanie Birn was found dead inside her home after officers first responded to a fight outside.

KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha man is jailed on a $2 million bond after police said he killed his ex-girlfriend with a steak knife April 25, then attacked another man outside her north side home.

Dale Dallia, 42, is charged in the death of Stephanie Birn, 37, and in the assault of a 41-year-old man who survived. The case moved from a reported fight near 13th Avenue and 57th Street to a homicide investigation after officers entered Birn’s home and found her dying. The complaint describes a violent scene, statements Dallia allegedly made before and after the attack, and evidence that prosecutors say links him to both victims.

Police first went to the area at about 3:30 p.m. on April 25 after a 911 caller reported two men fighting. The caller said one man appeared badly hurt and was lying on the ground. Officers found Dallia trying to leave the area and detained him. They also found the injured man outside and provided first aid until Kenosha Fire Department crews arrived. Police later learned there might be another victim inside the nearby home. When officers went in, they found Birn unconscious. She had been stabbed 16 times, according to the complaint. A bent steak knife was found in the kitchen sink.

The surviving man told police he had been in a romantic relationship with Birn and had stayed at his house with her the night before the attack. He said he received a text from Birn’s phone asking him to come to her home. When he arrived, he saw that the front door had been kicked in and the trim was off, according to the complaint. He said he was attacked right away on the porch. Police said Dallia hit him with a frying pan three times, then wrestled with him for five to six minutes. During the struggle, Dallia allegedly gouged at the man’s eyes and strangled him while saying, “I’m going to kill you.”

Officers reported seeing blood on Dallia’s hands, arms, face and shirt when they took him into custody. The complaint says officers also described what appeared to be human flesh on his clothing and hands. While the injured man lay in the grass, Dallia allegedly called him a vulgar name and said he was lucky he had not been killed. Police said Dallia also said he hoped the man died. After officers placed Dallia in a squad car, he allegedly heard them discussing Birn’s condition and began laughing. “I don’t care about you,” he allegedly said, followed by a slur and the words, “That’s what you get.”

Investigators say the case also includes evidence from before officers reached the home. A witness told police they dropped Dallia off at Birn’s residence that day and that he appeared intoxicated. The witness said Dallia pounded on the door and yelled, “Open the door,” while also saying he was going to kill someone. Police said Dallia had written on Facebook hours before the stabbing, “If you’re one of my true thug friends, who would help me get rid of a body?” Investigators did not say in the complaint whether anyone responded to the post or whether it was directed at Birn.

The complaint says Dallia had talked about Birn in the weeks before the killing. A roommate told police Dallia said two weeks earlier that he had gone through Birn’s phone and believed she had been cheating “with many men.” The roommate said Dallia and Birn had dated and lived together. One of Birn’s friends told local reporters that Birn had ended the relationship after seeing signs of aggression. The friend said Birn was afraid of Dallia. Another friend described Birn as a mother with an 11-year-old son and said she “loved fiercely” and would help anyone.

Court records also show Dallia had recent criminal cases before Birn was killed. In October 2024, he was charged with strangulation, battery, disorderly conduct and bail jumping after an alleged attack on a coworker. He later pleaded guilty to battery and disorderly conduct. In early 2026, he pleaded guilty to operating while intoxicated and drug possession. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail in February but was released March 25 after serving 42 days because of good time credit, prior custody credit and work crew credit. Birn was killed 31 days after that release.

Prosecutors charged Dallia with first-degree intentional homicide, attempted homicide and other counts, including charges tied to the surviving victim and police response. WISN reported that Dallia also faces a count involving battery on a law enforcement officer. A court commissioner set his bond at $2 million, citing the seriousness of the allegations and public safety concerns. Dallia remained in custody after his initial appearance. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for 8:30 a.m. May 12, when prosecutors would have to show enough evidence for the case to continue.

The home on the 5700 block of 13th Avenue became the center of a police canvass as detectives processed evidence and interviewed neighbors. Early police statements said the case began as a report of an altercation between two men and widened only after officers received information about a possible second victim. That sequence left residents with two scenes to understand, one outside where the man survived and one inside where Birn died. Police have not publicly released the full autopsy findings, and investigators have not said whether they believe Birn sent the text that brought the surviving man to the home.

The case now stands as a charged homicide, not a conviction. Dallia is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. Investigators have described the attack as connected to a prior relationship, a broken door and a confrontation with another man. The next milestone is the preliminary hearing, where the court will review the evidence behind the charges.

Author note: Last updated May 26, 2026.