In the fall of 2004, a young woman’s life was cut tragically short in what should have been the safety of a temporary home. Sandra Wisniewski, a 23-year-old female, was staying in a hotel in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, with her boyfriend, 25-year-old Gregg Phillips. On November 5, 2004, a violent encounter erupted that would end in the deaths of two people.
During a heated dispute, Sandra made the decision to leave the hotel room they were occupying.
As she attempted to flee, Phillips grabbed her and pushed her to the ground. It was at this moment that he fatally shot her. The violence, however, did not end with Sandra’s death.
After killing his girlfriend, Phillips stepped out into the hotel hallway where he encountered another hotel guest, 43-year-old Anton Uebelhoer. In an act of senseless violence, Phillips also fatally shot Uebelhoer. The motive for Uebelhoer's murder appears to be a tragic consequence of him being in the wrong place at the wrong time, an innocent bystander to the domestic violence that claimed Sandra’s life.
Gregg Phillips was identified as the suspect in both murders. The incident was a grim reminder of the deadly potential of domestic disputes, leaving behind a wake of grief and unanswered questions for the families of both Sandra Wisniewski and Anton Uebelhoer.
