Ex-Wisconsin cop accused of killing 2 women to stand trial

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Ex-Wisconsin cop accused of killing 2 women to stand trial
Carrie Antlfinger, Associated Press
Updated 2:08 pm, Sunday, January 24, 2016



MILWAUKEE (AP) — A former Wisconsin police officer accused of killing an Oregon woman and another from Minnesota and ditching their bodies in suitcases along a highway is set to stand trial this week in the first woman's death. Here's what you need to know:

THE CHARGES

Steven Zelich, 54, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse in the August 2012 death of 19-year-old Jenny Gamez, of Cottage Grove, Oregon. He is also charged with murder in the killing of 37-year-old Laura Simonson the following year, but she died in Minnesota, so the charges were filed there. That case is on hold pending the conclusion of the Wisconsin proceedings, which will take place in Kenosha County, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee, and which begins Monday with jury selection. At the trial over Gamez's death, the judge has allowed prosecutors to tell jurors about Simonson's death.

HOW DOES ZELICH EXPLAIN THEIR DEATHS?

According to court records and testimony, Zelich met Gamez online and invited her to Wisconsin. He picked her up at the Milwaukee airport and they drove to a Kenosha hotel, where they spent several days. Zelich told investigators they played a sexual game in which he would choke Gamez. On the last day, he lost control and choked Gamez until she died, according to the criminal complaint.

Zelich told investigators that he put Gamez in her suitcase and took it to his West Allis apartment and stashed her body in his refrigerator.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Ex-Wisconsin-cop-accused-of-killing-2-women-to-6780587.php

[Faux pas]

1. Disgusting and

sad

[Ino]

2. "Accidentally" killed them, my ass...

WAS HE A POLICE OFFICER AT THE TIME OF THE DEATHS?
No. Zelich worked for a suburban Milwaukee police department from February 1989 until his resignation in August 2001, following an internal investigation that found he stalked women while on duty and used his position to get access to their personal information. His resignation allowed him to avoid discipline and pass state background checks for a private security officer's license.

Why do all these psycho cops get to avoid discipline? This has to stop

[passiveporcupine]

3. Had not heard about this

I hope they put him away for life.

[7962]

4. Needle. nt

[Yavin4]

5. Anyone here watch "Making a Murderer"?

Connection perhaps?

[Eugene]

6. Ex-Cop Pleads Guilty to Killing Woman, Ditching Body

Source: Associated Press

Ex-Cop Pleads Guilty to Killing Woman, Ditching Body

By GRETCHEN EHLKE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILWAUKEE — Jan 25, 2016, 1:41 PM ET

A former suburban Milwaukee police officer pleaded guilty to killing an Oregon woman and ditching her body in a suitcase along a Wisconsin highway on Monday, the same day his trial was set to begin.

Steven Zelich pleaded guilty in the death of 19-year-old Jenny Gamez, of Cottage Grove, Oregon, whose body was found along a Wisconsin highway in August 2012. Zelich also is accused of killing a woman from Minnesota a year later whose body also was found in a suitcase along the same highway.

Zelich pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide with use of a dangerous weapon and hiding a corpse in the Gamez case, which is being handled in Kenosha County, about 40 miles south of Milwaukee.

The former West Allis police officer also is charged with killing 37-year-old Laura Simonson the following year. Authorities allege she died in Minnesota, so charges in her death were filed there.

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Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/cop-pleads-guilty-killing-woman-ditching-body-36503405