Background: News footage of Christopher Milke (in orange) in court on March 19 for his sentencing (KOLN). Inset: Tammy Leslie (Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel).
A Nebraska man, convicted of killing his longtime partner and mother of his children, faces life imprisonment without parole.
Christopher Milke, aged 53, received a first-degree murder conviction along with other charges for the shooting death of Tammy Leslie, who was 52. Leslie, his partner of many years and the mother of their two children, was tragically killed during an incident in September 2024. Alongside this crime, Milke took their children, then aged 11 and 19, hostage in their home. Following the jury’s verdict in February, the judge sentenced Milke to two life terms plus additional years for other offenses. Milke’s reaction in court was notably displeased as he faced the reality of his punishment.
Local CBS affiliate KOLN covered the courtroom proceedings, reporting that Milke erupted several times as Gage County District Judge Rick Schreiner announced the sentence. Milke argued that crucial evidence was omitted in his trial and stated on Thursday, “There wasn’t anything fair about this trial, not one godd— thing.”
During his opportunity to speak, Milke expressed to the court, “What happened in that room that night, I wish my kids believed in me like I believe in them. It wasn’t murder, and that’s all I’m gonna say.”
However, Milke continued to interrupt as the judge proceeded with the sentencing. Judge Schreiner cautioned him, “Mr. Milke, I’m not going to listen to your outbursts. You have the right to appear at sentencing, or I can remove you from this room, have you strapped to a chair at the sheriff’s office and read my sentence from there.”
Judge Schreiner noted Milke’s lack of remorse, citing Milke’s own words to highlight his culpability. “‘I finally killed somebody.’ Those are your words as you went to get another beer out of the refrigerator. This isn’t a whodunnit, Mr. Milke. It’s a you-dunnit.”
According to court documents obtained by KOLN, Milke shot Leslie several times in the head and chest in the early morning hours of Sept. 8, 2024. Police responded to the scene after a 911 call from the couple’s then-19-year-old daughter, who got back to the family’s home around 1:30 a.m. When she saw her father, he told her he killed her mother.
The couple’s 11-year-old son was home at the time in his bedroom and told police he heard four gunshots around 1 a.m. After the boy heard the shots, Milke ordered him to hand over his phone and go to the living room. When the older daughter came home, Milke asked for her phone as well.
The daughter took her phone back a few hours later, after Milke fell asleep. She told police that her father had sealed every exit to the home, preventing the two children from leaving the house. Milke reportedly suspected Leslie of infidelity and was attempting to keep her from leaving. He had been screwing the exits to the home shut every night for about a month before the murder.
Police said they believed Milke was abusing alcohol during this time.
After getting the call from the daughter, authorities agreed that they would attempt to breach the home after 6 a.m. At 6:20 a.m., authorities made their way inside and got the two children out safely. Milke had a 9 mm pistol on him when he was taken into custody.
Leslie was found in the couple’s bedroom, dead of several gunshot wounds.
Milke was found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, false imprisonment, commission of a felony with a firearm, and tampering with physical evidence. He received two life sentences plus additional decades in prison.
