Man Found Guilty In Waukesha Stabbing Death And Arson

WAUKESHA, WI—A Waukesha County jury on Tuesday found a man guilty of the 2019 death of 63-year-old Dennis Huelse.

Amani Swanel Tobias Smith, 22, was found guilty of 1st-degree intentional homicide, use of a dangerous weapon, arson, mutilating a corpse, and taking a car without consent. He is facing life in prison.

Smith will be sentenced on June 28.

On Sept. 26, authorities were called to a home on the 600 block of S. University Drive at just after 5 a.m. on a report of heavy smoke coming from inside the building.

Authorities say that fire crews battled the fire from the inside of the home. They put out the fire and found a victim, later identified as Huelse, within eight minutes of arrival, authorities said.

Huelse was found with a knife stuck in his neck, according to the criminal complaint.

During the course of their investigation, authorities learned that Huelse's red 1969 Pontiac Firebird had been stolen prior to the fire. A person came forward a short time later, saying he found the Firebird in an alley in Milwaukee.

Surveillance video led police to Smith.

Scott Anderson, Patch Staff, contributed this report.