Kyle Rittenhouse cleans graffiti from a high school near the Kenosha County Courthouse following another night of unrest on August 25, 2020 in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Prosecutors asked a judge for a new arrest warrant for Rittenhouse after he apparently violated his bail conditions by not informing court of his new address.
There is confusion over the whereabouts of Kenosha murder suspect Kyle Rittenhouse as prosecutors seek a new arrest warrant over claims that he has violated his bail conditions.
Prosecutors asked a judge on Wednesday for a new warrant for the 18-year-old, who is accused of killing two people and injuring one other during a Black Lives Matter protest in Wisconsin on August 25 last year. The motion also seeks to increase his bail by $200,000.
The warrant does not imply that Rittenhouse is attempting to flee ahead of his next court appearance in March, but that he failed to inform the court of his change of address within 48 hours of moving-in violation of his $2 million bond.
Prosecutors have learned he is no longer at his home in Antioch, Illinois, and do not know where he currently resides.
"In a criminal case as serious as this one, it is critically important that the court be able to monitor the defendant's whereabouts at all times," the motion states. "After all, it is extremely unusual for a defendant facing a charge of first-degree intentional homicide in Kenosha County to post cash bond and be released from custody pending trial.
"Rarely does our community see accused murderers roaming about freely."
However, attorneys for the 18-year-old claim they were advised by senior law enforcement officers not to share details of Rittenhouse's location with the court.
A court mailed Rittenhouse a notice at his Antioch address that was returned as unclaimed on January 28. When Kenosha Police detectives traveled to Antioch on Tuesday, they spoke to a man at Rittenhouse's previous home who told them he had been living there on a rental lease since mid-December.
Mark Richards, an attorney for Rittenhouse, has opposed the court filings and the motion to increase the bond amount.
According to a copy of Richards' objection provided to Newsweek, an attorney working with him, Corey Chirafisi, asked Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger on November 30 to request that the "safe house" where Rittenhouse would be staying after his release on bail be filed under seal.
The objection claims there have been number of threats made against the 18-year-old.
"It is noteworthy that the State has only now decided to file a motion to increase bond in this case, despite having corresponded with Attorney Chirafisi regarding the change in Kyle's residence over two months ago," Richards wrote.
The motion also claims that Rittenhouse's former attorney John M. Pierce was told to intentionally write the wrong address on the release papers by a high-ranking member of the Kenosha Police Department.
"Due to threats made against Kyle, I was concerned for his immediate safety while transitioning out of police custody after his bond was posted. Because of these concerns, I coordinated Kyle's release with Captain Bill Beth of Kenosha County Sheriff's Office several days prior to actually posting his bond," Pierce wrote in an affidavit seen by the website Law and Crime.
"After arriving at the Public Safety building, I reported to Joint Services and tendered the personal bond amount for Kyle. I was instructed to fill out a form and provide Kyle's personal information, including his address and social security number.
"While I was completing this form, I was approached by a Kenosha Police Department captain, who offered his assistance," Pierce added.
"I asked the Kenosha Police captain what address to put on the form. The Kenosha Police captain told me that I 'absolutely should not' provide the address of the physical location of the Rittenhouse safe house on the form, but to instead provide his home address in Antioch, Illinois."
Kenosha Police have been contacted for comment.
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