In the days leading up to her death, Neyaka Oliver, a 27-year-old White/Caucasian female, took brave steps to protect herself, but her efforts were not enough to save her from the tragic end that awaited her. A beloved preschool teacher in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, her life was cut short on the morning of March 18, 2019, in a violent culmination of domestic abuse that she had desperately tried to escape.
Just five days earlier, on March 13, Neyaka walked into a Milwaukee police station to
file a report against her 26-year-old boyfriend, Cas Martin. She detailed a terrifying argument from the previous night where he had gotten on top of her, choking her repeatedly to the point where she felt herself fading. The physical assault, she reported, included being slapped and punched multiple times. At one point, Martin went to the kitchen, returned with a knife, and threatened to stab her. He also went through her phone, slapping her in the face when he saw something he did not like. Police documented visible bruises on her hands, arms, chest, and face, as well as scratches on her neck.
The abuse and intimidation extended beyond that night. The following morning, after Martin drove her to her job at the Next Door Foundation, he sent her dozens of text messages demanding she leave work, including threats against her family. He then appeared at her workplace, showing her a video of himself outside and a photo from the reception desk. He tried to convince her boss to let her go by fabricating a family emergency. Fearing for her safety, Neyaka called her mother for a ride and returned to the police. She also reported that Martin had caused approximately $3,000 worth of damage to her belongings, cutting up and bleaching clothes and pouring lotions and shampoos down the toilet.
Following her report, prosecutors filed multiple charges against Cas Martin on March 16, including strangulation, battery, and criminal damage to property, all with domestic abuse assessments. An arrest warrant was issued for him that same day. He was already on extended supervision for a prior conviction on two counts of armed robbery. Two days after the warrant was issued, around 9:00 a.m. on March 18, police were called to a home near 58th and Keefe. Inside, they found Neyaka Oliver dead from gunshot wounds. Her killer, Cas Martin, was also found deceased at the scene, having taken his own life. The investigation confirmed the incident was a murder-suicide, bringing a devastating end to a life filled with promise.
