A $12 Shoplifting Attempt Turned ‘Deadly’ for Teen. No One Was Charged Until 13 Years Later

On December 14, 2012, sixteen-year-old Corey Stingley walked into VJ’s Food Mart in West Allis, Wisconsin. He attempted to steal $12 worth of flavored malt beverages. What followed was a fatal encounter that would haunt his family for over a decade, sparking questions about justice, accountability, and racial disparity in America’s legal system.

The Fatal Restraint

Three white men inside the convenience store tackled Stingley when he tried to leave. Mario Laumann, Robert Beringer, and Jesse Cole pinned the Black teenager to the ground, holding him for police. Surveillance footage captured Laumann’s arm wrapped around Stingley’s neck in a chokehold. Witnesses described the scene as brutal. The teen stopped breathing while the men remained on top of him.

Eight Minutes Without a Pulse

When officers arrived at the store, they discovered Stingley unresponsive, foaming at the mouth, and pulseless. Paramedics performed CPR for approximately eight minutes before restoring his heartbeat. However, the teenager couldn’t breathe on his own. He was rushed to Froedtert Hospital, where doctors worked desperately to save his life. The damage was already done.

A Death Ruled Homicide

Two weeks after the incident, Corey Stingley died from brain injuries caused by asphyxiation. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner determined he suffered oxygen deprivation during the violent struggle with multiple individuals. The manner of death was officially ruled a homicide. Yet despite this determination, prosecutors initially declined to file criminal charges against anyone involved in the restraint.

No Intent, No Charges

In January 2014, Milwaukee District Attorney John Chisholm announced his decision not to prosecute Laumann, Beringer, or Cole. His reasoning centered on intent and training. The men didn’t intend to kill Stingley and weren’t trained in proper restraint techniques, Chisholm determined. The decision sparked outrage among Corey’s family and the Black community, who saw injustice in three white men escaping accountability.

A Father’s Unyielding Quest

Craig Stingley, Corey’s father, refused to accept the prosecutor’s decision. With no legal training, big-name lawyers, or civil rights advocates backing him, he embarked on a thirteen-year campaign for justice. He gathered police reports, witness statements, and evidence. The quest consumed his life. His friends watched him transform grief into determination, providing emotional support throughout his relentless pursuit of accountability.

The Shadow of Trayvon Martin

Corey Stingley died the same year as Trayvon Martin, whose killing by a neighborhood watchman sparked national outrage and birthed the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet Stingley’s death after being restrained by three white men didn’t garner widespread attention outside Wisconsin. His story remained largely unknown while similar cases captured headlines. The disparity highlighted how some tragedies disappear while others spark movements.

Second Review, Same Result

In 2017, another police review led to a reexamination of Corey’s case. Craig Stingley hoped this would finally bring charges. A new prosecutor was assigned to investigate the circumstances surrounding his son’s death. However, after sitting on the case for more than three years, the prosecutor still refused to file charges. A judge eventually demanded a decision, but again, there was no accountability.

The John Doe Statute

Craig Stingley discovered an obscure legal tool dating back to Wisconsin’s territorial days. The John Doe statute allows private citizens to petition judges when district attorneys refuse to prosecute. In late 2020, Stingley filed such a petition, arguing that a crime had been committed and requesting judicial review. This citizen-initiated legal action would prove to be the breakthrough his family desperately needed.

A Third Prosecutor Takes Charge

The petition led to the appointment of Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne as a special prosecutor in 2022. Ozanne conducted yet another review of the evidence from that December day. His analysis would differ significantly from that of previous prosecutors. In 2024, he informed the Stingley family that his office had found evidence of criminal conduct worth pursuing in court.

The Charges Finally Come

13 years after Corey’s death, felony murder charges were filed against Robert Beringer and Jesse Cole. Under Wisconsin law, felony murder applies when someone dies during the commission of another serious crime—in this case, false imprisonment. The third man, Mario Laumann, had died in 2022. Ozanne’s analysis concluded there was no doubt that the three men caused Stingley’s death through unlawful restraint.

A Teenager Tackled for $12

In his letter to the court, Ozanne wrote that Corey, a teenager, was tackled and restrained by three grown men merely because they suspected shoplifting. They killed him while piled atop his body awaiting police. The prosecutor noted that the men had no legal authority to arrest Stingley. Their actions constituted false imprisonment. The restraint was intentional and without the teen’s consent.

Who Strangled Corey Stingley

Ozanne’s investigation distinguished between the three men’s roles. While all participated in the unlawful restraint, surveillance video showed Laumann’s arm across Stingley’s neck for several minutes as the teen faded from consciousness. Ozanne concluded that Laumann strangled Corey to death. Had Laumann survived, prosecutors would likely have sought substantial prison time. Beringer and Cole used rudimentary detention techniques without apparent awareness of Stingley’s distress.

Restorative Justice Takes Center Stage

Rather than pursuing traditional prosecution, Ozanne recommended a different path: restorative justice. This process brings together survivors and offenders for facilitated conversations aimed at understanding, healing, and making amends. Through the Andrew Center for Restorative Justice at Marquette University, the Stingley family met separately with Cole and Beringer. These face-to-face sessions proved transformative for all participants.

The Men Acknowledge Their Actions

Through the restorative justice process, Beringer and Cole came to recognize the profound ripple effects of their actions. In a joint statement to the court, they expressed sorrow that Corey’s time on earth ended far too soon. They acknowledged their connection to his death. The process allowed them to understand the devastation their choices caused. This recognition became central to the eventual resolution.

A Deferred Prosecution Agreement

On January 15, 2026, Beringer and Cole pleaded guilty to felony murder before Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Laura Crivello. Under a deferred prosecution agreement, they would avoid jail time while publicly accepting accountability. Each man agreed to donate $500 to a charity chosen by the Stingley family. After six months without violations, the charges would be dismissed.

Forgiveness in the Courtroom

Both of Corey’s parents addressed Judge Crivello during an hour-long hearing filled with family members, activists, spiritual leaders, and Corey’s former classmates. Alicia Stingley spoke of her baby, saying mothers shouldn’t bury their children. She discussed forgiveness’s grace and afterward hugged Beringer. The Stingleys’ surviving son, Cameron, shook both men’s hands. Healing had begun.