Wisconsin Authorities Apprehend Marckus Plaza Following Domestic Homicide Investigation After Restraining Order Dismissal

Marckus Plaza is in custody for the murder of his estranged wife after a February restraining order request was dismissed by a Kenosha judge.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 3, 2026, 8:53 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from TMJ4

A Narrow Manhunt Ends in a Salon Basement

The intensive search for 33-year-old Marckus Plaza concluded on Thursday morning when Kenosha law enforcement officers located the suspect inside a business near 74th Street and 23rd Avenue. Authorities confirm that Plaza has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife, 28-year-old Makayla Plaza, following an incident on Wednesday morning that triggered a region-wide pursuit. The apprehension marks the end of a tense period for the local community as investigators worked to track the suspect’s movements across the city before finding him concealed within the lower level of a salon.

Systemic Failure Cited in Dismissed Protection Requests

In the wake of the tragedy, Korey Williams, the victim’s boyfriend, detailed the extensive efforts made to legally distance Makayla from her estranged husband. According to Williams, the couple had actively sought a restraining order to address a pattern of escalating behavior, but the petition was dismissed by a judge in February. Court documentation indicates that the legal request was denied on the grounds that the petitioner failed to meet the necessary burden of proof, a development that Williams believes left the victim vulnerable to the subsequent fatal encounter.

Patterns of Surveillance and Domestic Control

Describing the environment of the marriage prior to the filing for divorce, Williams alleged that Marckus Plaza exerted significant control over Makayla through both physical and digital means. These actions reportedly included the confiscation of car keys and credit cards to prevent her from leaving their residence, as well as the misuse of home security systems to monitor private telephone conversations. According to Williams, these restrictive measures were part of a broader history of harassment that he witnessed and attempted to help the victim navigate before the relationship ended in violence.