The Suitcase Killer: Steven Zelich

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by tpksstories

by tpksstories

Steven Zelich is a convictedmurderer and a former police officer for Milwaukee who was dubbed the"Wisconsin Suitcase Murderer" by the press.

Murders

Zelich frequented S&M websitesunder the alias "mrhandcuffs", where he searched forsubmissive sex slave partners. That's where he met his two victims,19-year-old Jenny Gamez and 37-year-old Laura Simonson. Gamez waskilled in Oregon in late 2012 and Simonson was killed in Minnesotamid 2013. Zelich claimed both died accidentally during sex. Headmitted that after causing their deaths, he put their bodies intosuitcases and hid them in his home. The suitcases were later put intothe trunk of his vehicle, and then dumped along a Geneva, Wisconsinroadway in tall grass. On June 5, 2014, a highway worker discoveredthe pair of discarded suitcases.

According to the subsequent criminalcomplaint, the more decomposed of the two bodies was partly concealedin black plastic garbage bags and had her hands bound behind her backwith rope. The other body "was found with a rope wrapped aroundher neck, had a sexual ball gag strapped into her mouth with a collarand was naked."

Zelich, who had continued to use S&Mdating websites after the recovery of the bodies, was arrested onJune 27, 2014.

Investigation

Laura Simonson was immediatelyidentified from her dental records. Jenny Gamez was initially unableto be identified, and labeled a Jane Doe. Gamez was last seen by herfamily in Cottage Grove, Oregon in 2012 at which time she said shewould be moving, and had not been reported missing. Walworth Countyreleased a composite sketch of Gamez, which led friends and family toidentify her. The identification of Jenny Gamez was confirmed bydental records on June 28th, 2014. On the 25 of June 2014, Zelichwas charged with two counts of hiding a corpse and given a milliondollar bail. He was later charged with murder.

Trial and imprisonment

Zelich pleaded guilty to the murder ofJenny Gamez in early 2016. He received 35 years imprisonment. InFebruary 2017, he was sentenced to 25 years to life for the murder ofLaura Simonson. Zelich received another 10 years for the charges ofhiding of corpses in October 2017.

In the media

Crime Watch Daily reported on the casewith a focus on the Walworth County police's identification processof Jenny Gamez through forensic science.