Man died days after his 17-year-old nephew living under his roof got upset he didn’t allow him to have a friend stay overnight and repeatedly punched him in the head; nephew charged

Wisconsin – In a harrowing case in Wisconsin, a 17-year-old boy, identified as R. Fuentez, is now facing a felony murder charge after repeatedly punching his uncle in the head—who later died from the injuries sustained in the attack. The confrontation reportedly began over a seemingly simple dispute about a sleepover and ended in a deadly escalation of violence.

Fuentez and his uncle, whose identity has not been publicly released, got into an argument at the victim’s apartment earlier this year, on February 1. According to a criminal complaint, the altercation began when the uncle told Fuentez he could not have a friend stay overnight. Enraged, Fuentez began yelling, and when his uncle insisted the friend leave, the teen punched his uncle in the head multiple times, even as the man tried to defend himself. As the uncle raised his hands to protect himself, Fuentez reportedly continued hitting him while shouting insults. After the assault, Fuentez left the apartment, only to return the next morning.

The victim did not initially seek medical care, believing he was suffering from migraines. However, he began experiencing difficulty speaking while on the phone with his mother a few days after the incident. Concerned, she drove over and took him to a hospital, where doctors discovered internal brain bleeding. Doctors placed him in intensive care, but he passed away 12 days after his admission.

Initially, Fuentez was charged with battery causing bodily harm, a lesser charge reflective of the victim’s condition at the time. But following the man’s death and the medical examiner’s confirmation that complications from the brain injury caused his passing, the charge was upgraded to felony murder. A felony murder charge in Wisconsin applies when someone causes the death of another person during the commission or attempted commission of certain felonies—in this case, battery. The offense is classified as a Class B felony, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Fuentez is also facing an additional count of misdemeanor bail jumping. At the time of the attack, he was out on bond from a separate criminal damage to property case, and the new offense violated the conditions of his release. Court records show that a jury trial originally set for early June has been adjourned to allow the upgraded case to proceed. A new status hearing is scheduled for July 28. Fuentez remains in custody at the county jail.

During interviews with police, the uncle—who was still able to speak at the time of hospitalization—recounted the incident in vivid detail. He said the fight began simply because he told Fuentez he could not have a friend sleep over. As the argument escalated, the teen struck him repeatedly in the head, prompting the uncle to defend himself with a return punch. The complaint quotes Fuentez as later telling his uncle, “I’ve wanted to f– you up since the first day I moved in.” This chilling admission adds to the disturbing nature of the case, painting a picture of a potentially long-standing resentment that exploded into fatal violence over a seemingly trivial disagreement.

As the case proceeds through the legal system, it leaves behind a trail of pain and unanswered questions for the family left grieving. What began as a routine family dispute ended in the death of a man who had taken in his teenage nephew and shared his home with him for four years. This case now stands as a grim reminder of how unchecked anger and impulsive violence can quickly spiral out of control—especially in the most intimate settings of family life.