photo by: Theatre Lawrence

Louise ImMasche as Hedwig in "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

Updated at 4:21 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12

The driver involved in a crash four months ago that killed a local actor has now been charged with second-degree murder and several other crimes.

Eliseo J. Munoz, 24, was arrested shortly before 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at his Lawrence home on suspicion of DUI-3rd conviction and driving while his license was revoked or suspended — charges that relate to a separate incident on March 7, 2024. The arrest was “without incident,” according to Lawrence police. In that case, the just-released charging document indicates that his blood alcohol level was 0.24, which is three times the legal limit.

Munoz, who is accused in the death of 41-year-old Louise ImMasche, made his first court appearance Thursday afternoon via video from the Douglas County Jail. He was seated and appeared to be using a wheelchair; he informed Judge Sally Pokorny that he had been in a car accident.

Pokorny read off the several charges against Munoz — including reckless second-degree murder, circumvention of an interlock device, reckless driving and driving while suspended. Those charges are in addition to the charges he was arrested on Wednesday.

She set his bond at $750,000 in the murder case. Prosecutor David Melton told her that Munoz posed “an extreme risk to the public” if he were to be released.

Munoz asked Pokorny if there was “any way” he could get out of jail with intensive GPS monitoring so that he could continue his physical rehabilitation. Pokorny said no and told him his appointed attorney, Michael Clarke, could take up the bond issue with Judge Stacey Donovan on Feb. 17, when he is next scheduled to appear in court.

“There’s no possible way I can be released with GPS monitoring?” he asked again.

“Not today,” Pokorny said.

ImMasche, the actor he is accused of killing, was heading home to Kansas City, Missouri, after an Oct. 24, 2025, performance of “The Rocky Horror Show” at Theatre Lawrence and was hit head-on at the 384-mile marker on U.S. Highway 40, also known as the South Lawrence Trafficway or Kansas Highway 10 — between West 27th Street and Iowa Street. The crash occurred shortly before 10:30 p.m., when Munoz, going westbound in a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, crossed the center line and collided with ImMasche’s 2019 Kia Forte, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol. ImMasche died at the scene.

After the wreck Munoz was taken to Overland Park Regional Medical Center with suspected serious injuries. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to KHP.

Court records indicate Munoz had multiple run-ins with the law as a juvenile in Douglas and Reno counties, including arrests for underage possession of alcohol and marijuana possession, as well as criminal trespass, interference with law enforcement, battery on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, possession of narcotics and drug paraphernalia and attempted possession of stolen property.

Most of the juvenile offenses were “nonadjudicated” or dismissed. But two counts of interference were adjudicated via plea, as were a drug paraphernalia charge and conspiracy possession of stolen property. Other offenses related to drug, alcohol and paraphernalia possession and attempted possession of stolen property are listed as having ended in “other termination.”

ImMasche, who used they/them pronouns, was a well-known actor in area theatrical productions, including numerous shows at Theatre Lawrence, such as “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert,” “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and “The Rocky Horror Show.” Though they lived in Kansas City at the time of their death, they had previously resided in Lawrence for many years. ImMasche also wrote two musicals, “Femme Assassin Guy” and “Run.”