Muskego, WI – A 47-year-old Wisconsin man, identified as Casey Yiannackopoulos, is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly crashing his car while intoxicated, then fleeing the scene and leaving his 77-year-old mother to die in the passenger seat, according to police.
Crash Leaves Elderly Woman Fatally Injured
Authorities responded to a single-vehicle crash around 7:15 p.m. on Sunday in the S7100 block of Hillendale Drive in Muskego, a suburb of Milwaukee. Upon arrival, officers found a 77-year-old woman unresponsive in the front passenger seat of the wrecked vehicle.
The driver, later identified as Yiannackopoulos, was nowhere to be found, police said. First responders were forced to break through the car’s windows to reach the victim. She was unconscious but breathing when she was rescued and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead an hour later.
Police confirmed that she was Yiannackopoulos’ mother, though her name has not been publicly released.
Witnesses Say Suspect Fled the Scene
According to a probable cause affidavit, several witnesses saw Yiannackopoulos running away from the crash site. They told officers he appeared highly intoxicated, describing him as unsteady on his feet and smelling strongly of alcohol.
Witnesses recalled Yiannackopoulos claiming he was “going to get help”, but he never returned.
Home surveillance footage later obtained by investigators showed Yiannackopoulos driving at least 50 mph in a 30 mph zone before the car veered off the road and crashed into a ditch.
Police Find Suspect Hiding in Crawl Space
Officers discovered that the suspect’s mother lived just down the street from the crash site. When they searched her home, they found a ladder leading to a crawl space with the plywood door slightly open.
Police said Yiannackopoulos refused to come down, yelling and cursing at officers from inside the crawl space. Around 10:45 p.m., a police drone was deployed and located him hiding under blankets and a plastic bin cover.
He was forcibly removed and taken into custody. Officers reported that Yiannackopoulos had bloodshot, glassy eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol.
During questioning, Yiannackopoulos allegedly told investigators that the crash was “an accident” and that he would have been “more cooperative” if he had known his mother was dead.
His blood samples were taken at a hospital, and results are pending, police said.
Facing Multiple Felony Charges
Yiannackopoulos is now charged with:
- First-degree reckless homicide
- Hit-and-run involving death
- Two counts of resisting or obstructing an officer
He remains in custody at the Waukesha County Jail on a $750,000 bond, and his next court appearance is scheduled for Thursday.
Judge Calls Suspect’s Behavior “Depraved”
During Yiannackopoulos’ initial hearing, Court Commissioner Daniel Rieck expressed shock and disgust at the defendant’s alleged actions.
“As I read through your criminal complaint, sir, quite frankly, the word that came to mind over and over was depraved,” Rieck said in court, according to WISN. “This went from driving while drunk, having what one would presume is a very unfortunate, traumatic accident, losing your mother, but then quite literally leaving her to die. Why? Because you didn’t want to get in trouble.”
Ongoing Investigation
Police are continuing their investigation into the crash and are awaiting toxicology results to determine Yiannackopoulos’ blood alcohol content at the time of the collision.
The tragedy has left the Muskego community shaken, raising renewed concerns about drunk driving and accountability behind the wheel.
What are your thoughts on this tragic case in Muskego? Should penalties for drunk drivers who flee fatal crashes be even harsher? Share your views in the comments below.
