Steven Zelich Suitcase Killings: Second Corpse Identified
In the ongoing, bizarre suitcase killings allegedly executed by ex-cop, Steven Zelich, the identity of the second victim was released on Monday, according to NBC-15 in Madison, Wisconsin.
Wisconsin authorities say the second victim found stuffed in a suitcase found along a rural Wisconsin highway is that of a 19 year-old Oregon woman named Jenny Gamez.
As previously reported by the Inquisitr, Steven Zelich, a 52 year-old former police officer has been charged with two counts of hiding a coprse in a suitcase. Wisconsin authorities say Steven Zelich met both of his victims online.
It all started on June 6th, when a highway worker in Walworth County, Wisconsin discovered the suitcases and their grisly contents in the town of Geneva, about a half mile from the police station. Autopsies were done, and both victims were confirmed as female. One, later identified as 37 year-old Laura Simonson from Farmington, Minnesota, was missing since November. The identity of the second was more difficult to ascertain. Authorities say she was between 15 and 35 years-old, between 5’2? and 5’4? tall, and weighed between 120 and 140 pounds. Tattoo and piercing information was also recorded.
On June 25th, police arrested Steven Zelich of West Allis, Wisconsin. Steve Zelich’s home was then searched by police wearing hazmat suits on June 26th. They removed bags of evidence from Steve Zelich’s home, including an entire refrigerator. Information on the first victim was also released on the 26th by authorities, stating that the first victim, Laura Simonson, struggled with mental illness.
Steven Zelich, a former police officer and current security guard, admitted to killing Simonson and depositing her body in the suitcase. According to the Wisconsin Journal Sentinal,
“Simonson was found with a rope around her neck and a gag strapped into her mouth with a collar. The body of the second woman was found partially inside a garbage bag with her hands tied behind her back.”
Steven Zelich admitted to meeting Simonson online. He arranged to meet her in Rochester, Minnesota, in November, 2013, and Steven Zelich said he killed her at that time, put her body in a suitcase, and hid Simonson in his car.
Finally, on Monday, Steven Zelich admitted to meeting the second victim, Jenny Gamez, in Kenosha County, Wisconsin in late 2012 or early 2013, killing her, and disposing of the body in the same manner as Simonson.
Last week more reports concerning Steven Zelich started to file in. One woman claimed she encountered Steven Zelich in a bar in May of 2001, went home with him, and fled when he tried to handcuff her.
Jenny Gamez’s computer in Oregon state revealed “sexually-deviant content” according to NBC-15, and authorities said that Steven Zelich had met her – and Simonson – in online chat rooms.
So far, Steven Zelich has been charged with two felony counts of hiding a corpse. Homicide charges for Steven Zelich are expected to be filed as soon as it is determined exactly where the murders took place.
