Eau Claire Woman Charged First-Degree Homicide in Michael Lee Shooting

Michael Lee, a 37-year-old mental health support worker in Eau Claire, was shot and killed on August 30, 2025. Dakota Bilderback, the 29-year-old mother of his children, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and is being held on a $250,000 cash bond. Police responded to a shooting at a home on Sunset Drive where they found Lee deceased and Bilderback with her children in the backyard. Bilderback told police she shot Lee during a confrontation at the kitchen table, stating she had a gun intending to intimidate him and protect her children, and admitted to recent methamphetamine use and mental health struggles. Lee was remembered by friends and co-workers as a dedicated helper who overcame a troubled past and worked at an organization assisting young adults with mental health and substance abuse challenges. No court date has been scheduled for Bilderback's next appearance.