I-Team: New details in WI suitcase bodies case
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A second victim has now been identified in the bizarre discovery of two bodies in suitcases in southern Wisconsin.
The two corpses were found in luggage along a rural roadway near Lake Geneva. The ABC7 I-Team uncovered new sordid details about the former police officer, Steven Zelich, charged in connection with the deaths.
Police in southern Wisconsin Thursday night have tentatively identified the second corpse stuffed in a suitcase, put there, they suspect, by Zelich. Authorities are not yet releasing her name.
The I-Team first reported Wednesday night that Zelich might have held one of the victims captive as his personal slave. On Thursday, the I-Team uncovered new information to support that.
After authorities in suburban Milwaukee removed a refrigerator from his apartment and inspected bags and boxes full of potential evidence, Thursday morning they charged 52-year-old Steven Zelich with the hiding of corpses in suitcases.
Mummified remains of two women were found in luggage left on a roadside in the town of Geneva, Wis. were found three weeks ago by a grass cutting crew.
One of the victims has been identified as 37-year-old Laura Simonson of Farmington, Minnesota. Simonson, the mother of seven children, was last seen alive at a Rochester, Minn., motel, police say, with Zelich.
"At this time Zelich did confess to being involved in Laura's death here in Rochester," said Capt. John Sherwin, Rochester Police Dept.
Rochester police said they have evidence Zelich murdered her in the motel and took her remains to Wisconsin where he lived. According to court records obtained late Thursday, Simonson had rope wrapped around her neck, had a sexual ball gag strapped into her mouth with a collar and was naked.
The second body was partially concealed in black plastic garbage bags and it was later discovered that her hands were bound with rope behind her back.
Records state Zelich has admitted to both killings. The I-Team has found Zelich was a seasoned traveler in the world of perversion. On a website linked to Zelich's email address, there is an ad for a personal slave at least two years ago, that states: "No release enslavement, imprisonment, captivity, animalization... ideally in a farm/caged environment."
An anonymous web ad six months ago showed personal pictures of Laura Simonson and claimed that Steven Zelich had her imprisoned and was keeping her "naked, handcuffed and shackled... caged... enslaved... whipped and tortured." The anonymous posting claimed that Zelich called himself "Mr. Handcuffs" and on this sado-masochistic web forum, Mr. Handcuffs from Milwaukee was seeking a 24/7 slave to join him for a life of "total enslavement."
Zelich used to work as a police officer in West Allis, Wis., outside Milwaukee, but recently was with a legal services website.
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