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Steven Zelich
Mugshot of Zelich in 2021
Born
Steven Mark Zelich

(1961-10-29) October 29, 1961 (age 63)
Other namesSuitcase Murderer
MrHandcuffs
OccupationPolice officer (former)
Criminal statusIncarcerated
MotiveSexual gratification
Conviction(s)
Criminal penaltyDe facto life imprisonment (70 years in prison)
Details
Victims2
Span of crimes
2012–2013
CountryUnited States
State(s)Wisconsin and Minnesota
Date apprehended
June 25, 2014[1]

Steven Mark Zelich (born October 29, 1961) is an American convicted murderer and former police officer for West Allis, Wisconsin, who was dubbed the "Wisconsin Suitcase Murderer" by the press.[2] Zelich lured his two victims through sadomasochism websites, committing one murder in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota between 2012 and 2013. He is known for his dumping of the victims' bodies in suitcases on a roadway in Wisconsin. He pleaded guilty to all charges and was sentenced to de facto life in prison in 2017.[a]

Murders

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Zelich frequented S&M websites under the alias "mrhandcuffs", where he searched for submissive sex slave partners.[3] He met his two victims, 19-year-old Jenny Gamez and 37-year-old Laura Simonson through the sites. Gamez was killed in Wisconsin in August 2012 and Simonson was killed in Minnesota in November 2013.[4] Zelich claimed both died accidentally during sex. He admitted that after causing their deaths, he put their bodies into suitcases and hid them in his home. The suitcases were later put into the trunk of his vehicle, and then dumped along a Geneva, Wisconsin, roadway in tall grass. On June 5, 2014, a highway worker discovered the pair of discarded suitcases.

According to the subsequent criminal complaint, the more decomposed of the two bodies was partly concealed in black plastic garbage bags and had her hands bound behind her back with rope. The other body "was found with a rope wrapped around her neck, had a sexual ball gag strapped into her mouth with a collar and was naked."

Zelich, who had continued to use S&M dating websites after the recovery of the bodies, was arrested on June 27, 2014.[3]

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Laura Simonson was immediately identified from her dental records. Jenny Gamez was initially unable to be identified, and labeled a Jane Doe. Gamez was last seen by her family in Cottage Grove, Oregon, in 2012 at which time she said she would be moving, and had not been reported missing. Walworth County released a composite sketch of Gamez, which led friends and family to identify her. The identification of Jenny Gamez was confirmed by dental records on June 28, 2014.[5][6] On June 25, 2014, Zelich was charged with two counts of hiding a corpse and given a million dollar bail.[7] He was later charged with murder.[8][9]

Guilty plea and sentencing

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Zelich pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide for the killing of Jenny Gamez in early 2016, and was sentenced to 35 years imprisonment. In February 2017, he was sentenced to 25 years for second-degree murder for the murder of Laura Simonson. Zelich received another 10 years for the charges of hiding of corpses in October 2017.[10] Altogether, he was sentenced to 70 years in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 58+1⁄3 years, which is a de facto life sentence since his earliest release date given his multiple sentences is at a date when it is guaranteed he will be dead.

In the media

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Crime Watch Daily reported on the case with a focus on the Walworth County police's identification process of Jenny Gamez through forensic science.[11][12][13]

Notes

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  1. ^ 70 years in prison

References

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  1. ^ "Steven Zelich arrested in connection with Wisconsin suitcase bodies case". 7 Eyewitness News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "Former Wis. cop charged in "suitcase murders"". CBS News. August 5, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  3. ^ a b Daly, Michael (2014-06-30). "How 'MrHandcuffs' Ended Up With Two Corpses in Suitcases". Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  4. ^ Winter, Michael (July 3, 2014). "Detective: Women in suitcases died during rough sex". USA Today. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Missing Oregon woman's body found in suitcase in Wisconsin". KCBY. KVAL-TV. June 29, 2014. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Williams, Derica (June 30, 2014). ""No doubt it was her:" Friends & family of Jenny Gamez were just waiting on dental records to prove it". Fox 6 Milwaukee. WITI. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  7. ^ Guariglia, Matthew (2014-06-27). "Steven Zelich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  8. ^ Mintz, Hillary (2014-08-05). "Steven Zelich charged in death of Jenny Gamez". WISN. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  9. ^ Vielmetti, Bruce. "Ex-cop pleads guilty to 2nd murder in suitcase bodies killings". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved 2019-09-26.
  10. ^ "Steven Zelich sentenced to 10 years for hiding bodies of women in suitcases". Fox 6 Milwaukee. WITI. October 13, 2017. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  11. ^ Pt. 1: Bondage Site Meet-Up Ends in Horror - Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, 29 November 2017, archived from the original on January 25, 2024, retrieved 2019-09-26
  12. ^ Pt. 2: Bondage Site Meet-Up Ends in Horror - Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, 29 November 2017, archived from the original on January 25, 2024, retrieved 2019-09-26
  13. ^ Pt. 3: Bondage Site Meet-Up Ends in Horror - Crime Watch Daily with Chris Hansen, 29 November 2017, archived from the original on January 26, 2024, retrieved 2019-09-26
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