The Suitcase Murders

[music]. >> My name is Jason Smith. I work for the town of Geneva Highway. Department. >> [music]. >> So, on a a typical day when I'm. mowing roadsides, we would come in, we. have our morning meeting, have some coffee, get the tractor ready,

checked over the mower, checked the. blades, make sure everything is in good. working order, >> [music]. >> and hit the road. Mowing the roadsides, we mow basically. back to the right-of-way. We do that to keep the weeds from. spreading. So, I was mowing along and. I noticed something. There was some brush in the way that I.

had cut out of the way. And I went down, and it turned [music]. out to be a suitcase. So, I grabbed it, it was pretty heavy. I just assumed it. was some wet clothes, and I drug it up. to the edge of the road, put it right on. the road to start with, and then I saw a. second one behind that. So, I went back. and grabbed that one. Same thing, I drug. it up to the road, set it right on the. road. [music]. Cuz it was so close to the end of the. day, I didn't call anybody. Finished. mowing, and then when I got in, I said,

"Hey, we have a couple suitcases out. there we should go pick up.". >> My name is Eric Anderson. We're We were pulling up to the area. where the suitcases were on North Como. Road. I was a second-shift patrol officer for. the town of Geneva Police Department. On. uh June 5th, 2014, I was contacted for. someone that called in regarding uh. suitcases on the side of the road. And when I approached the suitcases, I. saw a lot of flies. I took the black.

suitcase. I ended up taking it by the. handle, laid it down, >> [music]. >> and unzipped it from the top and opened. it up and I saw the remains of a. decomposing human body, which was. appeared to be a female. Nothing can prepare you. with my really seeing what I'm seeing. right now. It's not normal. opening a suitcase and seeing body. inside. Then I went to the second suitcase, a. purple one. I grabbed the handle, lifted. it up, and felt the weight inside of.

that. So, we proceeded to lay down the. suitcase and open that one and where we. found another appeared to be human body. inside. Who could possibly do this to another. human being? And I determined that I needed to take. step back, close this off as a crime. scene, and I needed to call my dispatch. and let them know what was happening. >> We had to figure out, first off, who the. victims were, then to try to figure out how they had. lost their lives, and then to try to.

figure out who was the person. responsible for that. >> [music]. [music]. >> Geneva's just a small community. A lot of Chicago land individuals come. here to relax. It's a real quiet town. >> [music]. >> Population's around 5,400 people, but. during the summer times it doubles even. triples with uh vacationers. They come.

here for a place to relax. Suitcases found on the side of the road. with two young ladies [music] deceased. in there. just flipped this town upside down. Came. national news for the wrong reasons. >> Law enforcement was out on Como Road for. about 5 hours yesterday evening when. those two bodies were discovered. >> [music]. >> Nothing can prepare you for what you can. see upon opening a suitcase and finding. a corpse inside [music] of it. Does it. affect you? Of course, cuz police are. not robots.

>> [music]. >> I had to let other people know to get. down there, so I had to go to get a hold. of the Walworth County Sheriff's. Department to send detectives down to. help me out with the scene. Jeff Ergnago was one of the first. responding detectives from Walworth. County Sheriff's Department. >> When I pulled up, Dirk Anderson came up. to me, and you could tell like there was. something really important that had. happened because he had that certain. stare in his eyes. And he said that he.

had opened one of the suitcases, and it. contained a dead human being. So, one of the suitcases that was on the. side of the road. This is terrible stuff. And when we open. this up [music] and you smell what you. smell, I mean, it takes me back in time. to the same day when we discovered these. things on the side of the road. >> And from the suitcase, what could you. gather? >> There was no name identification on.

either of the suitcases. So, it was pretty tough at first to try. to figure out who they were. >> Both of the victims' bodies were. severely [music] decomposed. >> Yes. They were so decomposed that we. weren't able to get any DNA from their. [music] bodies. And the bodies were not. dismembered? No, they were still all. intact. Both of the women were about 5 ft tall, weighed right around 100 lb. >> [music]. >> We're trying to figure out cause of. death, the manner of death. We noticed. that both of the victims had tattoos. So, we're trying to figure out from.

their tattoos who the people were. We had a anthropologist come in, take a. look at one of our victims. >> [music]. >> And so, what she did was she tried to do. a drawing of her, a composite drawing. >> What could you gather from this? >> [snorts]. >> Not a whole lot. The big thing, obviously, is that the victim had larger. sized teeth, but not much luck really. came from that composite drawing. >> Cops made a couple more observations. One is that one of the bodies, the one. in the purple suitcase, seemed far more.

preserved, almost in a state of. mummification. They also noted that both. bodies were bound with rope. >> This is a knotted piece of rope that was. around one of our victims' wrists. >> What kind of person would do this? >> That's what I asked myself when I first. arrived at the scene. >> [music]. >> The town of Geneva police chief. providing few details. He is calling. this a death investigation that they are.

treating as criminal. >> There really is not much more I can tell. you at this time. >> But this quiet town is now buzzing with. questions about safety. >> Everybody's just shocked and. >> [music]. >> scared. >> I can't even imagine what the people. were thinking in this community. It hit. like a Midwestern tornado and probably. brought back some memories of Jeffrey. Dahmer, that human predator who murdered. 17 men, 16 of them in nearby Milwaukee.

>> Definitely came to my mind thinking is. there are there more bodies somewhere. else that someone this might be a serial. killer and what did [music] I just get. myself into? >> How many more people could there be or. could this still be going on? >> [music]. >> We were unaware of these two people. missing from our immediate area and we. need to go statewide. because I thought that this was. something not from our immediate area. >> After casting a wider net, investigators.

are alerted about another case in. neighboring Minnesota. [music]. It involves a woman who disappeared. several months earlier under extremely. suspicious [music]. circumstances. >> When I received the call that two bodies. were or in two suitcases down in Geneva, Wisconsin, I was wondering, [music]. is this connected with Laura?

>> Along this rural Walworth Highway, near. the town of Geneva, a lawn cutting crew. found abandoned suitcases containing the. bodies of two women. >> It's a It's a horrible, horrible crime. that we're going to work real hard and I. have a lot of confidence in the. investigators that they're going to be. able to put some of these pieces. together. >> [music]. >> I felt like we needed to have a bigger. net to talk to people from a bigger area. from the whole Midwest to try to find. out who these victims were. [music].

>> By widening that target area of. investigation, >> [music]. >> cops learned that state authorities in. Wisconsin are teaming up with nearby. Minnesota police to investigate the. disappearance of a woman several months. earlier. >> Hey, just to let you know, one of our. agents was helping out a detective from. Minnesota in trying to find a missing. woman. Maybe you should communicate with that. detective. They then connected with Detective Lee. Howlett from Farmington, Minnesota.

>> So, tell me about Farmington, Minnesota. What kind of people live here? >> Uh totally a uh bedroom uh community. So, it's kind of the uh last. uh ring of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul uh. suburbs. >> Seven months before those suitcases are. found in Wisconsin, Detective Lee. Howlett is investigating the. disappearance of 37-year-old Laura. Simonson. Her abandoned van was found at.

her mother's home. >> And her van was uh parked right here on. the hand side of the uh. and myself and Detective Sungren went. went searching it. >> [music]. >> We found her cell phone. We found her. purse and medication. So I thought that was very odd when we. found that in the van. >> You get an indication that Laura's in. trouble? >> You know, just reading through on what. who Laura was and what she had all gone. gone through, especially in the past.

year. Ooh, a lot of red flags here. >> Laura was raised in this general area. She was raised in Northville, which is. about, you know, roughly 20. miles south here of Farmington and she. was well known in school and popular in. school. >> Is [music] it taping? >> What? >> Taping what though? Taping my. Yes, it is. Hi. >> I met Laura in elementary school.

Everybody loved Laura. She just would. light up the room when she walked in. Just the smile on her face always would. brighten your day. >> [music]. >> This is the Northville Middle School. This is where Laura and I first met. >> [music]. >> Laura had blonde hair and she was. bubbly. She was fun to hang around with. She was funny girl. >> Oh, here's a nice one when we were.

younger. Yikes. Look at those pigtails, but we. had to have our hair done the same way. in the same outfit. >> She looked up to you though, huh? >> Yeah, she did. Yep, that's my little sister. >> She was my, you know, little sister who. was [music] annoying at sometimes, but. then, you know, at the same time I was. her protector. When we got older, we really connected. when we started having kids, [music]. when we started getting our own own. family.

>> Laura out of high school eventually got. married and ended up having, you know, a. family, actually a quite a large [music]. family with uh seven children. >> Their marriage was really ups and downs. It was like either it was it was really. good and they got along really great or. it was the other side to where there. were fights and it was hard to watch. >> Well, ultimately, this marriage hits a. dead end and the couple divorces. >> [music]. >> And the darkness isn't over because.

after that, Laura's daughter, Alyssa, has a terrible accident in a pool. [music]. and she is rendered disabled. >> Laura lived this, you know, for 13 years. with Alyssa and took care of her every. day, day in and day out, and Laura. shut down. She didn't want to talk to. anybody. >> Having to deal with the whole situation. of the kids, that all just finally came. to a head. >> And that was part of the downward.

spiral. >> Yes, it was. Laura, I think at that time. had admitted that she needed help. because she had. started using drugs. >> The state, they took the kids. They. separated the kids, put them in foster. care. I feel like Laura lost her way. and she didn't know how to. recover from that. >> [music]. >> June of 2013, the same daughter that had. all the medical condition ended up.

passing away. And I know that was a devastating blow. to Laura. >> And she got an infection in her heart. and nobody knew about and just passed. away in her sleep. >> And what impact did this have on Laura? >> It crushed her. >> And her mental well-being in general, [music]. you were worried about that. >> Yes, very worried about her. There were periods where we weren't sure. where she was staying. We we didn't know where she was.

>> On November 1st, 2013. Laura's mother received a text message. from Laura. It was quite alarming. Saying, you know, "Hey, I'm sorry I'm. this way. It's not you, it's me. I'm no. good for the kids, either. And you know. what? Best thing I can do is stay away. Love you all always.". >> How concerning was this text to her. family? >> It was very concerning, but they did not. you know, right when they got that. message, they didn't act on it as it was. quite. let's say it's quite common that Laura.

would go missing at times. >> But the very next day, there's that. unsettling discovery of Laura's van in. her mother's driveway. [music]. And inside. another note. >> I'm so sorry to leave the van here. Call. and have it towed. She mentions her food. card. Take my food card and all that. Which [music] to me was kind of a red. flag. >> But you were trying to find out where. might she have gone, right? >> Correct. Correct. And then I started. calling you know, like local homeless.

shelters, churches, and things like. that. And I called you know, her ex. husband. Called boyfriends, contacts. that she had with, but I was coming up. with nothing. >> Then. another note. [music] And this one is. found at the door of Laura's mother's. house. It comes from some mystery man, a guy. the family never heard of. And [music]. then the case takes a sinister turn. >> Hey, I haven't seen Laura since November.

1st and she's without her meds. I'm very. concerned on her whereabouts. She has. never disappeared like that. >> We're like, all right, you know, who's. who's this guy? What's this all about? And now I'm getting more scared. >> [music].

[music]. >> When Laura disappeared, it was a shocker. What do you mean Laura's missing? [music]. Laura would have never ditched her kids. That wasn't Laura. Her kids were her life. >> We already know about the note that. Laura left for her mother instructing. her what to do with all her belongings. Well, 2 weeks later another note appears. at Laura's mother's door. And this one. is from a man named Jeff Madison.

>> So, Jeff leaves a note and saying, "Hey, I haven't seen Laura since November 1st. and she's without her meds. I'm very. [music] concerned on her whereabouts. She has never disappeared like that. None of us know where she's at and I'm. very concerned.". >> I had never heard of him. >> [music]. >> And, you know, we're like, "Who's this. guy?" Now again, more scared. >> [music]. >> because she's missing. Her van's here. and now a friend of hers is reaching out. to say, "Hey, [music]. I haven't seen her. You know, what's going on?". >> Tell me more about this man, Jeff.

Madison, who left that note. >> Jeff Madison was a friend of hers that. lived up in St. Paul, which is about 20. miles from here. And they were close friends. >> Then, something that comes as a big. surprise. Jeff Madison sends an email to. Detective Sergeant Hollatz. In it, he. says [music] that Laura had been on an. online dating community called CollarMe. And it caters to people involved in.

something called BDSM. [music]. >> BDSM stands for bondage [music] and. discipline, as well as domination and. submission, as well as sadism and. masochism. [music] And so, it's really a. lifestyle that is largely consensual and. related to the [music] dimensions of. power and control. >> I was floored. I was very surprised. >> Do you think she was doing it because. she wanted. >> I honestly think she wanted someone to.

take care of her. And, you know, in a submissive role, that's what that other person does is. they take care of everything. >> Not only does Jeff Madison know all. about Laura's participation in this. online community, but he actually knows her username and. password. >> [music]. >> Jeff made the hair on the back of my. neck stand up. The way he would. communicate in emails, but also him.

having her usernames, her passwords. >> So, he knew [music] too much. >> Exactly. Yeah, it was a little bit on the creepy. side. >> You must have asked yourself, "Who is. [music] this guy?". >> Oh, I very much did. When I'm looking at his emails, I'm like. going, "Is there a possibility there is some. jealousy here? Is he hiding [music] her. out? Does he know something else?" I. didn't know, but it was still kind of. it was just [music] odd, but he was just.

that individual that actually cared a. lot and knew his way around computers. and all that. >> Detective Hollett says he decides not to. bring Jeff Madison in for questioning at. this time because there are still no. signs of foul play. But Hollett says. Madison maintains constant email contact. with him. >> And that's good news because he keeps. delivering information that's helpful to. the police, such as the actual profile.

name of the main person Laura has been. communicating with on that Call Her Me. site. >> Mr. Handcuffs. >> Which yeah, Mr. Handcuffs himself. Looking at Mr. Handcuffs' profile, there. is a picture of this guy sitting back on. the couch. Mr. Handcuffs basically. looked like a probably somebody in their. like young 50s, white Caucasian man, dark hair, well-groomed, you know, saying seeking a long-term permanent. 24/7 slave for [music] absolute. ownership.

and slavery. >> Jeff Madison [music] continues to. deliver the goods. This time he hands. over a series of emails dating back a. couple of [music] months of. communication between Laura and Mr. Handcuffs. >> She's constantly, you know, calling him. sir and master. And he's kind of giving. her marching orders. Here's how we're. going to do it. Here's how we're going. to meet and all that. One of these. emails that was sent to a Mr. Handcuffs.

was quite haunting. She says in the in. the middle of the message, "I have no self-esteem, no trust in. myself, no judgment, no faith, no hope, no direction, >> [music]. >> no desire, no confidence, no will, basically. The kids gave me the. only thing to live for.". Reading these emails, it starts putting. pieces of the puzzle together. >> [music]. >> I think Laura was still grieving and,

you know, turning to these online sites. >> [music]. >> might have been looking. for, you know, a relief and to. distracting her from the death of her. daughter. Yeah, I would say that, you know, all. those emotions created this, you know, [music] perfect storm that. created this person that nobody. recognized. >> Is it possible that Mr. Handcuffs has. something to do with the disappearance. of Laura? Then investigators uncover.

some startling video. that really heats up this investigation. >> And I'm like, "Holy moly.". >> Every time that I lift, you know, it's like a therapy.

It's very much a stress reliever. and like meditation. I'd be in the middle of lifting, just. kind of thinking of the case, who to. contact next and all that. When I received this case, it just happened to be at a time in. [music] my personal life. that my son was first showing. signs of some serious mental health. Reading what Laura lived with and.

suffered with, it really resonated with me and really. kind of hit me that like the like this. person is [music]. suffering and going through a lot and. that's why. I dove in so hard with it. >> Detective Hollets relentlessly continues. with his investigation. He decides to. send out a statewide bulletin about. Laura's disappearance. [music]. >> I sent out what's called a Minnesota. crime alert.

I sent it to shopping malls, homeless. shelters, hotels, law enforcement. [music] agencies, etc. With Laura's picture on it, saying, "Anybody know anything about Laura. Simonson?". >> Just by sheer luck, some hotel clerk. sees this alert come over the fax. machine.

>> This is Microtel Inn & Suites by. Wyndham. >> What was your job at the hotel? >> At that point in time, I. was just a front desk agent. >> You're working there and you receive a. fax. What struck you about this particular. fax? >> Well, the picture of her. That caught my attention and then when I. seen the name, I thought that.

that's familiar. I knew she had been at our hotel. >> [music]. >> Christie from the Microtel Hotel in. Rochester calls our police department. and makes a report. I'm like, "Holy moly. We got Laura down in Rochester.". I talked to the hotel manager and I. said, "You got anything else that shows. that was there?" Okay, yeah, we have a. registration card. Has a signature on it. says Laura Simonson. >> This?

>> Correct. >> You see so many guests. What do you. remember about Laura? What struck you. about her? >> I seen her a couple of times at the. hotel. My antenna was up with her. Laura looked sad like um. easy like a beaten horse. >> Really? >> The guy she was with was always standing. right behind her. Like [music].

she was controlled. That's what I felt. >> And what did he look like physically? >> Kind of pockmarked face, pale, I'd say medium height. Ah, you know there's certain people you meet. where the hairs on the back of your neck. stand up? >> Yeah. >> He was one of those. >> Because Christie was paying attention, we now have Laura at time. in Rochester, Minnesota, 1 hour away.

with this unknown male. >> What evidence was the motel then able to. give you guys? >> From there. I asked for the video surveillance of. the hotel. I spoke with the manager. He. says, "Okay, we got [music] it.". But he goes, "Good news and bad news. Good news is I got a Sunday. when they checked out. The Saturday when they checked in they. lost because of [music] the like a. 30-day time time frame.". >> Just by a day you missed it. >> Correct. I never got to see Laura on the hotel.

video. Never saw her checking in. >> There's this bombshell of surveillance, [music] the check out video. >> Correct. >> Let's play it. >> [music]. >> What do you see here? >> You'll see this. unknown white male. pushing a luggage rack full of. suitcases. Okay, and he goes out the door.

Then he comes on back. Goes up [music] here. He checks out. >> We know that Laura checked [music] in. Do we ever see her checking out? >> We We did not see her check out. She's. nowhere on the video. >> Any idea who he [music] is, this man? >> I had no clue. >> Your mind must have been racing when you.

[music] see this video. You got to find. this guy. >> Correct, because he has information on. my missing person. >> [music]. >> He was with Laura. Everything's pointing. that he was with Laura. At that time, >> [music]. >> I sent out another Minnesota crime alert. with a still photo of him and asking. again, "Please departments, I'm hitting. the Rochester area [music] hard. Who knows this guy? Somebody must know. him, right? >> For you, [music] it's a race against. time. >> It is because every day that she is. missing, she doesn't have any money,

>> [music]. >> she's vulnerable. >> She could be in danger. >> Correct. >> Once that man is spotted in that hotel. video, Laura's friend, Jeff Madison, is. cleared [music]. as a person of interest in this case. In. the meantime, there's one person that. she had been interacting with online. >> Correct. >> Mr. Handcuffs. >> Is Mr. Handcuffs the man in the video? What do you see? And when his identity. is revealed, it has law enforcement.

stunned. >> Woah. Now, what do I got? I ran into my. detective. >> [music]. >> I go, "You will not believe this.". >> By the time that I got the video back, so I have this. unknown, you know, middle-aged white. male. So, I'm like, "All right, who is this guy that is.

involved with Laura Simonsen?". Okay, I don't know. >> Jeff Madison has become quite the. citizen sleuth. Two months later, he. sends [music] this email to Detective. Hollis. And he says he has new and very. [music] important information. This is huge news. He says he's. identified Mr. Handcuffs. [music]. >> So, Jeff Madison digging into all of. Laura's profiles and her emails and all.

that, he somehow figures out. that this Steve is Steven [music]. Zelich. >> Mr. Handcuffs. >> Yeah, Mr. Handcuffs himself. So, the next [music] thing I did is I. put it into a database that we have. access to. And eventually it comes back. to a Steven Zelich from West Allis, Wisconsin. West Allis is [music] basically going to. be like a suburb. of Milwaukee. So, I contact West Allis Police.

Department. And I [music] said, "Hey, I'm you know, I'm looking you know, for this Steven. Zelich that lives at you know, at this. apartment in your town.". And then he tells me [music] that Zelich. used to be a police officer. >> A police officer? >> officer with that department. >> Now, you're not just dealing with any. suspect. This is a trained law. enforcement officer. >> Correct. >> changes your approach. >> Oh, it absolutely does. >> Steven Zelich was from this area. He. went to high school at St. Thomas More,

which is the Catholic school. His dad was a uh Milwaukee police. sergeant. So, I suppose that was always. something he thought about doing. And. started as a police officer in Mequon, which is a suburb uh northwest of. Milwaukee. >> Zelich resigned from that department. after 5 years [music] and applied for a. new post at the West Allis PD. Now, of. course, they're going to do a background. check. Here's what came back. Not any negative. information. And Zelich was a very good.

[music]. officer. >> He was a upstanding guy. Everybody liked. him, very popular. >> This woman who asked us not to reveal. her face or name dated [music] Zelich. while he was at the West Allis Police. Department. >> He was like the perfect boyfriend. I was. a police officer for a different. jurisdiction and he was also a police. officer, so we all hung out in the same. crowd. >> What did his apartment look like? >> His apartment was meticulously clean, very much a clean freak.

>> But she says that after several years. together, something changed [music] with. this seemingly buttoned-down cop and a. darker side emerged. >> We had gone home from a night of. drinking and he was pretty intoxicated. and he starts coming at me and he had. handcuffs in his hand. >> What did he do? >> He basically overpowered me, handcuffed. me. >> She says the incident left her deeply. shaken, but says she didn't report it at. the time [music] because of Zelich's.

position. in the police department. And you wind. up breaking [music] up. >> After what he had done to me, and I I. couldn't trust him anymore. In the years that I knew him and [music]. years later something changed. >> I so I get a call from Barry Waddle, the captain of the West Allis Police. Department. He says, "Why you asking about Steven Zelich?". And so I I I kind of start telling him. what I have and you know, my case. And.

he pauses and he goes, "Let me tell you about Steven Zelich.". >> You would get constantly women calling. department saying, "He's harassing me.". >> He had a habit of visiting people. [music]. during his shift, uh stopping in at. strip clubs, talking to [music]. the dancers, intimidating them in a way. that trying to get them to go out on. dates and. >> [music]. >> not taking no for an answer. >> The West Allis Police Chief decided it. is time to confront Zelich about these.

allegations. >> He was you're asking, intimidating, pressuring uh. young women. >> Well, with you, how long has this been. going on? >> I have not so. when any of those things keep it all I. have politely asked. or like a. >> [music]. >> single woman. I mean, one of my police buddies on. shift. There's been no harassment, pressure. [music]. >> In addition to hanging out at strip.

clubs while on duty, Zelich was accused. of harassing a woman who worked at this. local hair salon. >> He was showing up here in the parking. lot and waiting for her to leave work. >> Wouldn't take no for an answer. >> He certainly wouldn't. >> What is this? >> So, this is the fire escape. She would. park right there where that white car is. and Steven Zelich was parked over there. and he pulled his car around and he had.

parked behind her. She was trapped. It. was very dangerous and she was very. scared. >> If you would block her in with your. [music] squad car so she could not. leave. >> No, I had. not in any [music] way blocking her in. or intentionally blocking her in and. >> Do you think it's proper, Steve, for an. officer on duty in uniform to be. approaching [music]. a woman and continually asking her for. lunch? >> My behavior was never badgering, never. was I. pushy or lying. I'm always professional. and gentlemanly. >> Even though [music] you're you're in.

uniform, on duty, carrying a gun? >> Well, I don't know if the uniform or or. the. >> [music]. >> profession itself. lends to pressure, but it was a casual, very low-key. >> [music]. >> contact with her. >> Perhaps the most [music] serious. accusation against Zelich occurred one. night when he was off duty and he took a. woman home to his apartment. [music]. What she alleges, he attacked her.

>> She said she was scared and was in some. state of undress at that point and still. ran out of the apartment to try to get. help. >> When confronted by his chief about the. incident, Zelich maintained that he was. just trying to stop the woman from. stealing money from him. >> She immediately goes right to my wallet. I grabbed her. neck and hand area. I certainly don't. want to hurt her. And so, [music] I stopped and she then.

immediately goes out the door. I think I. acted very appropriately. You know, there was no physical strain. >> You don't think you did anything wrong? >> No, absolutely not. I did nothing wrong. >> Steve, it seems that a. a pattern developed in the last few. months. All of these women. uh have felt intimidated by you. And I. don't know. I'm going to be drafting up. charges with the Police and Fire. Commission. >> After findings of multiple conduct. violations, he's placed on.

administrative leave. And eventually. gets a 20-day suspension. >> So, rather than face being fired, um he resigned. And they did not pursue. any criminal charges. That was the end. of his law enforcement career. >> Now the question, did this former police officer. >> [music]. >> have anything to do with the. disappearance of Laura Simonson? >> And then I told [music] Captain Waddle, I go, "Hey, I I have a I have a.

a still picture from a video. surveillance from a hotel in Rochester, Minnesota." He gets it and calls me. right back. He goes, "That's Zelich.". So, now I know that we have somebody. that was with Laura when Laura went. missing. >> Now it's time for cops to pay a visit to. Zelich. They only have one thing on their mind. Is Laura being held captive [music] in. his apartment? >> So, the reason why we're [music] here, we're.

here regarding Laura. She's missing. What we're here for is to ask you. when when you last saw her. >> After Steven Zelich [music]. resigned from the West Allis Police. Department, he became a security guard. working for some corporations [music]. as a contractor in the greater Milwaukee. area.

As I'm digging around on this case more. and more and more, I'm kind of getting frustrated cuz. everything is pointing to Zellich. So, the captain of the West Allis Police. Department asked him to go talk to. Zellich. Remember, I'm working a missing. person's case. And I'm hoping that they knock on the. door and Laura's there.

The officers are allowed in to look. around and all that. They don't see. Laura. They don't see any, you know, female clothes, nothing. >> Unfortunately, Detective Hollets has. reached a dead end. And 2 months have. now gone by since Laura disappeared. There are really no other investigative. avenues for him to pursue. And then, a phone call. Help is on the. way. >> I get a call from FBI agent right at the. end of February. Can you tell me about.

this case? So, I said, "Sure. I'll take anybody that has a big badge. that, you know, cares about this case.". >> My name is Carrie Gibson. In 2014, I was. a special agent for the FBI assigned to. the FBI field office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The missing person cases would have come. in to our unit specifically. Detective. Hollets had shared that he hadn't. interviewed uh Steven Zellich yet, and. we needed to know what was he saying. about his relationship with Laura.

>> Well, when Agent Gibson heard that, she. goes, "Can I send one of my Milwaukee agents, you know, uh with the Wisconsin State. Police?" And I said, "Yeah, two big badges better than one.". So, I said, "Let's do it.". >> Steve? Hi. How are you? >> Good. >> Good. I'm Cuba Fernandez with the. Department of Justice. How are you. doing? >> Good. >> Uh he says, [music] "Do you want to come. in? Happy to have a conversation. Come. into my residence.". >> When they're speaking with him,

they notice that he is like very nervous. and sweating profusely. >> Did you ever want to meet? And she said, "No.". >> Well, I think there was a similar. situation. of meeting. I had no intention of actually meeting. >> You had no intention of meeting? >> No. >> Why? >> Just because it was it was really just. interesting, fun, recreation, conversation online. That's really what.

it is. >> Okay. >> Did you even know what state she was in? >> No. Or at least I don't recall. >> He said that they had met online, that. he had never seen Laura, it's all. fantasy-based conversations that he had. had, and really tried to distance. himself from her. He lied. [music] We already knew that he. had had a lot of contact with her. So, we knew we were in the right direction. [music] with him. >> Thank God Agent Hernandez and the FBI.

agent asked, "Zelich, will you give us. a, you know, a sample of your DNA?". [music]. >> If I ask you for a sample of your DNA, would you be willing to offer it to me? >> Yes. >> Just because I want to, uh. as you know, being in law enforcement, eliminate anybody, cuz I'm I'm very. worried about her. >> Yes. >> But keep in mind that this is still a. missing person's case, and with no. evidence of a crime being committed, investigators say there's. >> [music]. >> not enough to move against Zelich. >> But from there, we have no other.

information. But that is basically when the case went. really cold. No more leads. We don't know where Laura is. We have no. contact. We have nothing. I know the. family was getting frustrated. >> What was it like waiting for answers? >> Horrible, but I wondered then where she. was. >> [music]. >> Why wasn't she here? Why wasn't she at. Thanksgiving? She never would have. missed a holiday. It just It didn't make [music] sense.

>> The one thing that always ran through my. mind is that she's going to be home. today. We're going to hear from her. It. was. I think a few months after I was told. that she was missing that, you know, I started to think, is she okay? Is she going to be back? >> It's now April, 5 months since Laura. vanished, and Detective Hollins says his. supervisor tells him to move on.

>> There was really no more leads and all. that. And the supervisor came in and he says, "You need to close that case out. You. have other things to do.". >> Oh, boy. >> And at that time he walked into [music]. his office and I went, "No way am I. dropping this case.". >> You just couldn't put this case [music]. aside. >> I wasn't going to put this case aside. Then a couple months go by and I. remember receiving [music] a phone call.

>> Please have Carrie Gibson calling. >> I didn't get to the phone in time, so. it's on a voice message and it's from. Agent Gibson. >> There was two bodies that was found. tonight in the county close to. Milwaukee. [music]. >> Two bodies, two suitcases. >> Correct. >> One deceased individual who might be our. Laura. >> I rushed into work and I'm like, "Okay, let's see what's going [music] on here.".

>> [music]. >> I've lived in Walworth County for 25. years. >> Where's your mark? [music]. Right there. Good. Watch. Watch. >> It's a kind of a quiet rural area. >> Damon. >> It's a very hometown tight-knit. community. >> [music].

[music]. >> Dogs are always happy to see us. So, what's nice [music] about that is you. have such a stressful environment at. work, and then when you come home, now. you have a friend who's happy to see you. every day when you come home. To me, that's a great stress relief. >> [music]. >> In June of 2014, I was a detective with. Walworth County Sheriff's Office. This was a very big investigation for. our entire agency. I've worked for a. number of years at the Sheriff's. Department, and during my time here, I.

mean, we did have homicides, but nothing. to the severity of this kind of a. homicide. >> On June 5th, when I first got to the. scene, I walked over to the black. suitcase with Officer Anderson, unzipped it, and we saw an. adult woman that was inside the suitcase. that was deceased. So, I could see that there was a tattoo. on her ankle,

and it had words and numbers. Then I walked over to the purple. suitcase, opened it, and saw that it also [music]. contained a deceased adult woman. >> The next day we started to do the. autopsies right away so we could try to. figure out who the victims were. But, we. decided that we wanted to communicate. with all the local police agencies in. several states in our area. We shared information about the height.

of the people, how much they weighed, their hair color, hoping that someone. had reported these people missing. >> Three security dispatch calling and. there was two bodies that were found. tonight in the county close to. Milwaukee. [music] One of the deceased. individual who might be our Laura. >> The next morning I I rushed into work. and I'm like, "Okay, let's see what's. going on here." I speak with the local. authorities down in southern Wisconsin. They ask me, "What tattoos did she. have?" And I knew she had tattoos. I. contact uh Laura's sister.

>> Yeah, Nikki. >> Nikki. Nikki tells me that she has like. a outline of a heart on her ankle. >> [music]. >> with her daughter Alyssa. And that's the. one. who had uh passed passed away earlier in. the year. >> Now you're convinced it's Laura. >> It's Laura. It's Laura. We knew it was Laura. >> The tattoo had her daughter's name. >> Mhm. >> Who had died. Alyssa. That must have been devastating for you. >> Yeah, I didn't want to believe it. And I.

remember thinking, "I can't tell my. [music] parents.". How do you tell your parents that their. daughter's gone? >> It's not supposed to be that way. Could you ever [music] imagine that the. sister that you grew up with. could have met her end in this manner? >> No. Not [snorts] at all. And she didn't. [music] deserve it. >> When I found out. that they had found Laura, [music] it it.

was it was on the news. That's how we I found out. She was found in a suitcase. I. It's gut-wrenching. I mean. your worst nightmare comes true, you. know? That's what that is. >> So, the victim inside of this also had a.

rope that was wrapped around part of her. body. So, we removed the rope from her. body. and then we had that rope analyzed. >> [music]. >> So, in thinking about how someone might. handle a rope and particularly tying a. knot, the parts that you're going to. come in contact with your hands are. going to be. >> [music]. >> the portions of the rope going into the. knot. So, I swabbed the inside of the. knots and sent those for [music] DNA. processing. On June 13th,

we developed DNA [music] profiles from. the rope. >> By now, Steven Zelich is the prime. suspect [music] in the disappearance of. Laura Simonson. Remember, he willingly. gave up some DNA a while back. Well, now. cops are eager to try [music] to match. that to the DNA found on the ropes. >> The DNA sample that the agents got from. Zelich. was a perfect match. Right there is a slam dunk. We had.

Zelich involved. with Laura Simonson's death. >> I met with all the detectives, [music]. explained that she found Steven Zelich's. DNA inside the rope and you could have. heard a pin drop. Uh I was elated. Everybody was elated. >> Now, Wisconsin investigators reach out. to Detective Travis Rigat of the. Rochester, Minnesota PD. Remember, the.

Microtel is the place [music] in. Rochester where Laura is believed to. have had that encounter with Steven. Zelich. >> Steven Zelich was seen on camera. checking out of the Microtel where him. and Laura had checked into the day. before. We did believe that Laura was probably. in one of them suitcases that were. pushed out of that lobby. >> [music]. >> That led to doing a search warrant. there. >> And knowing that the whole the crime. scene was when we arrived here and the.

information we had coming into this. investigation, we were just hoping to. find some sort of forensic evidence that. may have been left behind. >> Forensics teams come through there. and just swab the room looking for DNA. samples. And at some point we did get a. return that that yes, there was DNA. evidence there from Laura. >> I told everyone that we were now going. to move forward to the next step of the. investigation of actually confronting. Steven. >> You got to strategize because this isn't. just any suspect. This is a former law. enforcement officer. >> Absolutely. He knows what we're going to.

ask him. >> Investigators wanted to question Zellich. about what happened to Laura, but then. out of the blue, he says something that. takes them by surprise. >> She was like 16 or 16 and a half years. old. >> And as he was going on, I didn't know. who he was talking about. >> Steve pissed out of me. You say the. first [music] one, which one are you. which name? >> We had no idea who. our second victim was. [music].

>> Once we discovered that we had Steven's. DNA on that rope, that gave us enough evidence that we. could do a search warrant on his home. >> Officials were seen carrying large paper. bags back and forth between the. apartment complex and this Walworth. County crime scene unit. >> Zellich's apartment was three [music]. steps short of squalor, a far cry from.

that meticulous clean freak described by. his ex-girlfriend. >> [music]. >> I mean, looking at the police video, the toilet and the bathtub alone looked. like they hadn't been cleaned in maybe. years. >> We took out [music] two large suitcases. uh that were full of BDSM equipment, collars and handcuffs, [music] and rope. Things that that uh we took as evidence. >> When they are searching his apartment, kicking the door in,

>> [music]. >> Zelich just left for work like an hour. earlier. >> DCI agent [music] Gil Hernandez and I. went to Johnson Controls to meet with. Steven Zelich. Steve agreed [music] to talk with us. >> We get into the back seat of the squad. car, and he said that although he wasn't. a police officer anymore, uh he held his. right hand up in a fist and bumped his. chest. He said, "In my heart, I feel. like I'm still one of you.".

>> And we drove from Johnson Controls down. to DCI's office on Wisconsin Street in. Milwaukee. >> He was wearing this security guard. uniform that looked very similar to a. law enforcement officer's [music]. uniform. Essentially, he had everything. except for a firearm. I decided not to. remove anything from his belt because I. didn't want him to feel like he wasn't. one of us anymore. >> We talked to him for several hours. Uh at first, it was kind of uh.

nerve-wracking because you don't know. how it's going to go. >> Carrie Gibson was really good with. psychology. She has that in her. background, so she was very helpful in. try to [music] How do you talk to a. person like this? >> The hope is to get a full confession. from him, right? He sits back [music] in. his chair, and he looks at his nails, and he cleans his nails like this, and. listens [music] to what the detectives. have to say. >> I don't think it's going to be as. interesting, but as.

you anticipate, sir. >> And I was just taken back by just. [music] how incredibly calm he was, and. that he was not at all intimidated by. that setting. >> So, what was your nickname or call name. on Collar Me? >> [music]. >> Mr. Handcuffs. >> Okay. >> And that was a play The name was a play. off of. probably the old police profession. >> Mhm. So, of course you ask him about. >> [music]. >> the bodies in the suitcases. >> Correct. >> Did he deny responsibility for that? >> No, not at all.

>> We're going to go with the route of. talk, no attorney. I can tell you already. Uh. trial not. I'm going. >> [snorts]. >> We'll go the route of. condensing the process. >> [music]. >> Well, start off just like the beginning. >> Well, we're. Give me a starting point. What is. >> Uh just talk about the [music] first. girl.

>> Okay. >> When we interviewed Zelich, >> [music]. >> we had no idea. who. our second victim was. We only knew the. identity of Laura Simonson. >> But then, >> [music]. >> without any prompting at all, Zelich. starts talking about that unknown. victim. >> I think. I first started talking to her. online, [music] so you would call it. meeting her.

would be She was like 16 or 16 and 1/2. years old. >> Steve Pesta, when you say the first one, which [music] one do you mean, which. name? >> I only know them by names. I don't know. which one is first one and second one. Jenny. >> Jenny? Okay. Thank you. >> When he mentions that name, Jenny, how. big a moment is that for you? >> Oh, that's that was huge. Again, we. didn't know who she was. And so, you. just let him continue to talk and. [music] talk, and you don't want to. interrupt him. >> Do you remember her last name?

>> Gomez, or no, well, something like that. Gomez, something similar to Gomez. She. contacted [music]. was interested in uh. you know, you know, coming out here. She was from. uh. West Coast. Let me think a moment. Oregon, [music] I believe. >> He doesn't give you many more details.

So, how do you figure out exactly who. Jenny was? >> [music]. >> Uh so, in the other room, we had uh FBI. agents. Uh Carrie Gibson was there. And. then she [music] started networking with. her computer system. >> Do you have any passwords or anything on. your cell phone? >> Uh. no, it should be. >> Ultimately, he agreed to show us his. phone [music] where it had her. screenshot from her Caller ID profile. It said that she was from Cottage Grove, Oregon. So, then we call Cottage Grove, Oregon.

uh police and we ask if they can run. Jenny Gomez in their system. >> I called the police department in Oregon. and I had asked, "Can you please send me. a copy of her driver's [music] license. picture?". I showed that picture to Steven and he. said that that was Jenny. >> What was it like to finally have the. identity of both of these [music]. victims? >> Uh it was relieving. Very relieving. We arrested him for hiding the corpses.

on the side of the road. >> For investigators, that's one huge. mystery solved. But now, the question. is, who exactly is Jenny Gomez? And how. did she become entangled with Mr. Handcuffs? >> I think maybe she thought that Steven. Zelech actually cared about her [music]. and loved her.

>> [music]. >> Oakridge, Oregon is small town, everybody knows everybody. People don't lock their houses here. >> [music]. >> There's one stoplight. There's not much. to it. One high school, one elementary. school. Jenny Gomez [music] is my sister. Yes, she was my foster sister, but I mean, we. were.

like. siblings. Jenny had a very [music] difficult. childhood and a very rough home life, which eventually put her in the foster. care system. [music]. >> My relationship to Jenny is I'm her. sister. [music]. We were in the same foster home. together, but we never said foster. sister. The three of us were inseparable. The. three of us were the three amigos. Jenny [music] was very funny. She was. very kind. She had one of the biggest.

hearts. She cared about everybody. >> Jenny was a very genuine soul. She was. very giving, very trusting, almost too. trusting. >> [music]. >> But underneath Jenny's bright and. cheerful exterior was someone struggling. to cope with past trauma. Growing up, she had some minor brushes with the law. and had given birth at a young age.

>> Jenny had been exposed to trauma, had. [music]. lost custody of her child, and found. herself in the BDSM community [music] as. probably a way to cope with some of that. and to find again a place for her. identity. >> So, I think it was very shocking when we. eventually discovered that she [music]. had a very, you know, big. secret life. >> Steven Zalisch first interacted with. Jenny when she was 16 years old, and he.

interacted with her on a BDSM webpage. called callherme.com. They ceased. contact [music]. for several years. She reaches back out. to him when she turns 18. >> I [music] think maybe she thought that. Steven Zelich actually cared about her. and loved her. >> He had asked Jenny to get rid of all of. her belongings to play this what I would. call disappear game where it's her. purposely getting rid of different.

belongings and changing her life. >> Zelich told her that he would take care. of her for the rest of her life. So, he made arrangements to fly her from. [music] Oregon to Milwaukee. >> If Jenny would have told. one of us. I'm going to go [music] meet some guy in. another state that I've never like that. would. >> That we don't know. That would have. never happened. We would. Both of us would have found a way to. shut that down.

>> When police officers searched Steven. Zelich's home. one of the pieces of luggage had an. identification tag on it. And the phone. number led them to. Bradley Tenner. >> [music]. >> He'd been friends with Jenny Gomez. He. was present when she was packing for her. trip. >> And we are speaking with Mr. Bradley. Tenner. >> When was the last time you saw her? >> Probably that August. >> [music]. >> when she flew out that morning. I drove. her to the airport. >> You're also pointing to a suitcase on a.

photograph on your personal [music]. computer you're showing me that is a. female with this same [music] suitcase. Who do you know that female in the. picture you're showing me to be? >> As Jenny. At that point, it seemed like. she was trying to cut everything away, you know, channel off. And she suddenly. seemed a little different. >> She traveled from Cottage Grove, Oregon. to Kenosha, Wisconsin August 26th of. 2012. But he doesn't take her to his.

apartment. He takes her to a motel that. is in Kenosha after picking her up from. the airport. >> Zelich knew in the back of his mind he. was not bringing her home. Now how is he. going to deal with that problem? >> So. Steven Zelich [music] is describing a. pretty horrific scene inside that motel. room. And he's talking about this BDSM. encounter he's having with Jenny when he. starts to. >> [music]. >> strangle her with a rope.

>> Basically. uh I had the rope around her neck. and pulled it. hard enough and long enough. without releasing it. he came. and. resulting in. in in her in her in in her death. >> He says this is accident. Uh. you know, this is absolutely accident. I. got caught up in the moment. I it was, you know, it was so enjoyable to me.

>> It got way out of hand. Way out of hand. And obviously uh my fault and I'm going. to. pay a price for that. >> But Zelich's deadly narrative [music]. isn't over. In his flat, emotionless. voice, he goes on to reveal something. even these seasoned detectives. cannot begin to imagine. >> Well, that's the I that's the moment I. chose. That's the moment [music] I had. to decide.

>> In a steady procession, investigators. appear from an apartment building near. 80th and Lincoln in West Allis. >> I was in West Allis. We were doing. [music] the search warrant and I saw. helicopters flying over and news cameras. everywhere. >> [music]. >> At a certain point, and I was standing. right over there, they bring out this [music] full-size. kitchen refrigerator.

You figured that was somehow [music]. critical to the investigation and and. what happened here. >> It was Zelich himself who explains the. significance of that refrigerator. [music]. Investigators bring him into a more. comfortable interview room to keep him. talking. [music] Now, remember, he's. already admitted to strangling Jenny to. death. >> Well, that's the That's the moment of. truth.

That's the moment I have to decide. This either I can either call 911. or. panic and do what I did. Uh um. put her in one of the suitcases. I bought a. luggage cart. Stacked all the luggage, including the. pink luggage, which had her in it now, and. rolled it out to my car.

>> He proceeds to drive to his residence in. West Allis, Wisconsin. When he gets there, he takes Jenny and. all of his suitcases, right, out of the. car and brings them into his apartment. >> She comes in. The pink suitcase comes into the house. I take her out.

She was put in the refrigerator. Really, my thinking, I think, was to buy. time and figure out what I'm going to. do. So, that is where she stayed for quite a. while, and I can't [snorts] use the. refrigerator, so I'm eating know a lot. of uh. fast food or eating at work or whatever. In retrospect, it's ridiculous, but. that's exactly what happened.

>> Authorities say it was that cold. refrigerator that [music] explains why. Jenny's body was in a state of. mummification. >> She was. almost mummified and. and had mold on her body. What was very. clear to us is that hands down, the only. time you ever have mold on a body is if. the body is kept in a refrigerator, not. a freezer. >> [music]. >> It just tells you how sick he was that. he. puts her in his refrigerator.

And he holds it for months. >> In fact, Zale kept Jenny's body in his. refrigerator from August of 2012. all the way until November of 2013. That's when he had that encounter with. Laura Simonson in that hotel in. Rochester, Minnesota. And if you can believe it, Zale says the. exact same thing happened again. >> Very similar.

uh circumstances. And that was the first incident. after Jenny. Second girl, Laura. >> What does he tell you about Laura's. death at that point? [music]. >> Uh essentially the same thing that he. told us about Jenny. He took a rope, uh. wrapped it around her neck. He again. pulled on [music] it too hard, too long, and then she died. He didn't [music] do anything to help. save her life.

>> Intensity and duration went too long. >> Okay. >> And at some point went past. the point of. a person, you know, you and off. breathing too long. >> Zelich told us that he put her suitcase. with her body in it on the luggage cart, and then he pushed it from the hotel. room right out to his car. We were able to see that, obviously, in. the video that were recovered from the. Microtel Hotel.

>> Once he kills Laura, now it's colder, [music] so he puts her. in the trunk. Never brings her into the apartment. And at some point, he takes [music]. Jenny's body out of the refrigerator and. puts her in the trunk of his car along. with Laura. You would think that if somebody kills. somebody, they're going to dispose of. the body right away. Zelich has a sick [music] mind. Those were his possessions. He owned. them. >> Can you imagine all winter long? Home to work, work to home, I mean.

Trunk full. Her. All winter. It's just like what the hell. >> both, right? >> Yes. >> It It amazes me, and I was living. >> That's That's crazy. Both in the trunk. Through the winter into the spring. Ultimately, it was getting warmer. And you can't keep both suitcases in the. trunk of the trunk all summer. >> By June, it's warm. He had those bodies. in the trunk of his car, and [music].

an employee at Johnson Controls, who one. of his co-workers, said something about. his car stinking. >> I mean, he's in a security uniform, so. that's why. >> He just looked at me. Well, he said there was an odor over. there. Well, I know immediately what he was. referring to. >> He then becomes panicked, is what he. says, and ultimately leaves work, starts. driving around, trying to figure out. what he's going to do. Didn't know where. he was going to put them, what he was. going to do, didn't know what to do,

drove until it was dark out. >> Do you know where you are? >> Uh. No, I I have no idea of area you know, >> [music]. >> I was just really looking for. you know a quiet and dark place off. off the main freeway. [music]. Ultimately, where they were left was. just dark and quiet. Really had no idea where I was. >> [music]. >> Took both suitcases. and. put them on the side of the road.

>> You would think that as a former cop, Steven Zelich would be meticulous about. covering his tracks, but he wasn't. >> Yeah, he could have done things better, but I'm glad that he didn't because. eventually all these things when they. add up helped us greatly with solving. who killed these people. >> Zelich has been saying all along that. these two deaths were accidental. Now, he faces confrontation by a roomful. of suspicious investigators who want to.

prove both [music] women were murdered. >> I don't buy. that Laura was killed by accident. I. don't. You knew what you were going to do. coming into this. >> [music]. >> Steven Zelich has admitted to strangling. both Jenny and Laura to [music] death, keeping Jenny in a refrigerator for. months, and then putting both bodies in.

suitcases [music]. and abandoning them by the side of a. road, but he still insists that both. deaths were just [music]. accidents. >> It got way out of hand. Way out of and. and obviously. my fault and I'm going to. pay a price for that. >> He says it was an accident. What did you. make of that? >> Um minimization. When people do bad things, a lot of. times they don't want to take full. responsibility for them. So, it's easier.

for them to say softer words to to what. they did. >> Now, a team of investigators from. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the FBI are. going to confront Zalech once again and. try to get him to admit this was no. accident. These were murders. >> My name is Detective Jeff Rightnauer, and I'm meeting with Steve Zalech in the. soft interview room at the Sheriff's. Office. >> [music]. >> We had learned all the details in the. prior interview the day before.

And we transition into more of an. interrogation. Try to get him to admit what he did. He'd say that we're death, [music] but. he never said that he killed them. >> During the interview, I was able to talk. about [music] you had the ultimate power. and control over their life and then. making that final decision whether they. lived or died. >> This [music] is the perfect crime. because from a law enforcement. perspective, if if I go to do a missing. person investigation, first I'm going to. check their bank account.

>> He was directing her to close out every. aspect of her life. >> [music]. >> and make it look like it was consensual. Close all your bank accounts, get rid of. your vehicle, donate all your. belongings. All of this would look like. Laura herself had orchestrated this on. her own. >> That whole organized thing I used to. leave. Can't take credit for that myself. That's very common thing in BDSM. >> The day that Laura disappeared, Zalech. had methodically planned everything,

[music]. telling Laura where and when to meet him. in person. >> Laura parked her van and then left it in. her mother's driveway where she exited. the her van, walked a couple of blocks down to the. elementary school, and was picked up. Looking through these emails between. Laura and Mr. handcuffs, they were all very haunting. >> [music]. >> One of these emails that was sent to a. Mr. Handcuffs, she says in the in the. middle of the message, "I'll be [music].

dead whether it's with you alive as your. slave or dead murdered by you.". >> Do you think she had a premonition? [music]. >> I think she had a idea that it might. happen. >> [music]. >> When you talk about the inherent risk. that's there, what does that mean? >> It's just just been the nature of. constricting breath. It's potentially. dangerous.

>> You'd say potentially deadly? >> Well, it certainly can be, yes. >> You did not buy that. >> No. No, I I I felt that there was more. to this and the fact that we have two. victims that were killed almost in. identical ways. How does it happen twice? >> When you put them up to each other, they're just almost identical. >> When I look at the two, obviously. they're very similar. >> There's a pattern here where you have. young women that are traumatized and.

looking for some type of security. through a dominant partner. And then you have a predator that's. preying upon that. And they're mirrored. Um what he does. with Jenny, he he does with Laura. >> Yeah, are you trying to. recreate that experience, that feeling. from the first one to the second one? >> I can't. say consciously that I I consciously. said to myself, "I'm going to recreate.

that I like this so much that I'm going. to recreate it exactly.". >> [music]. >> I was done listening to him be one of. the guys. he had killed [music] this girl. and I wanted him to admit that. >> I up once, she mocked me. I still have a dead body in my. refrigerator. I cook up again. You have to know. that what I'm doing is. >> dangerous. >> and most likely.

going to kill her. >> It's dangerous and a risky. I wouldn't say. most likely going to kill her. >> He makes no attempt to. help her in any way. He puts her in a suitcase the same. [music] way that she died. Um. and that's where I kind of turned it on. him saying. you knew what you were doing. >> I don't buy. that Laura was killed by accident. I. don't. >> You knew what you were going to do. coming into this.

>> There's no motivation there. >> That's not my intent. It will not go where [music] Travis is. inferring. Travis is inferring something different. >> What am I inferring? >> That. >> [music]. >> this is just an intentional. intentional homicide. And that is inaccurate. >> He kept saying I don't like what Travis. is insinuating. I said what am I insinuating? And he still wouldn't [music] say. that I murdered her.

It was the. callousness of Zelich. during his interviews. >> [music]. >> that. he took zero responsibility for. anything. >> [music]. >> Zelich is ultimately charged with. multiple counts of murder and hiding. [music] a corpse. He pleads not guilty. to all counts. >> And as prosecutors gear up for trial, Zelich delivers an 11th hour twist that. takes everyone.

by surprise. >> We were convinced that we had what we. needed. But then it all changed. [music]. >> [music]. >> For months, Stephen Zelich was awaiting. trial in Kenosha County for the 2012. murder of 19-year-old Jenny Gamez. >> I did have a concern [music]. that is there going to be one jury. member or two jury members that would.

kind of. you know, maybe give him the benefit of. the doubt. >> This case was just about the only thing. I was thinking about for weeks and. [music] we were geared up. The state of. Wisconsin had a compelling criminal case. against Steven Zelich for the murder of. Jenny Gamez. But then it all changed. The weekend [music] before the trial, Steven Zelich decided. he wasn't interested in a jury trial. He. was interested in [music].

entering a plea. >> He must have thought that was his only. shot of ever seeing daylight again. >> Steven Zelich was originally charged. with first-degree [music]. intentional homicide and he pled guilty. to first-degree reckless homicide. >> Very sorry that this occurred. And I'm very [music] sorry uh. Jenny was the uh victim and I wasn't. able to protect her. uh the way I was supposed to. >> The judge sentenced Zelich [music] to 35. years in prison and 10 years extended. supervision.

In Minnesota, [music] Steven Zelich. pleaded guilty to the second-degree. murder of Laura Simonson and he was. sentenced to 25 [music]. years in prison. Later, he got 10 more. years in prison in Walworth County for. two counts of hiding a corpse. Now, add it all up, Steven Zelich will. die behind bars. >> I was relieved. It's a devastating case,

devastating thing that happened [music]. to Laura and her family and I saw it as. a closure. >> At the end of the day, I'm glad that he. pled guilty and was held accountable for. for [music] actions so that way the. victims' families could start to heal. >> I think [music]. he's pretty lucky to still be alive in. prison. >> I felt relieved that they got another. monster off the street. He can't hurt. anybody else. for the rest of his life.

>> Despite the convictions, investigators. say they still have work to do. They say. they need to determine if there might be. other victims of Steven Zelich. somewhere out there. >> Now that we had opened Pandora's Box, essentially, how many more victims were. we going to find? >> I know you're saying that there are no. more victims, but I'm I'm scared that there might be. something out there. >> There's no future There's no future.

victims. There's no additional victims. None. Zero. >> In the search warrant at his residence, we located. uh 35-mm pictures. with different women. that were in BDSM sessions. >> These are all your pictures? >> These are my pictures. These are. photographs. These are These are. photographs I I took. >> Okay. And then. >> How many different people are in these. pictures? >> I've got time that we can sort through. them a little bit. >> We started trying to identify who these.

women were. Trying to see if [music] we can. develop anything further as far as. other women he may [music] have killed. Uh that didn't turn up anything for us. at the time. I don't know that he. killed anybody previously [music]. to these two, but uh. I think if left unchecked, he would have. continued to do what he was doing. >> [music]. >> And we had information that he was. immediately, upon dropping off these two. bodies,

making plans through email to try and. meet another woman, where [music] he. starts up with this same pitch of you're. going to come and live with me and be my. slave. So, I do believe that if Steven Zelich was. not arrested when he was, that there. would have been further victims. >> It's actually. hard to fathom the whole thing. How all. the things lined up.

I'm just thankful that that happened. the way it did. Because it easily could. have been a whole 'nother year before. [music] we found the suitcases. >> Anytime you lose somebody like that's. like so close to you, like your sister, your life's never going to be the same. It's never going to be whole There's. always going to be like [music]. that puzzle where you There's always. that one missing piece. >> [music].

>> So, I figured we could go to Green. Waters [music] Park. Um. just like in remembrance of Jenny. >> And release some flowers in the water. >> Yeah. Cuz we have so many memories with. her. >> [music]. >> having to do with water. >> In water, the pool. >> Always swimming. >> Always swimming somewhere. >> [music].

>> Jenny was a very genuine soul. >> [music]. >> I don't think she had a mean bone in her. body. >> [music]. >> She was just a. beautiful soul.

>> Laura was a good friend. Um. she was outgoing. She was full of life. >> She's a funny person. She's full [music]. of humor. And. she could make your your day a better. day um if you had. had a conversation with her. And her smile is is just one that one. could never forget. >> [music]. >> Laura was a loving mother. And she was a.

great aunt, a great sister, a great. daughter. And the fact that this. happened is just horrible and. heartbreaking. [music]. >> Laura taught me a lot of patience. And a [music] lot of kind of like where. I ended up um. came from her. >> [music]. >> Laura. not a day goes by that I don't think. about her. And I miss her every [music] day. >> And I know they're all looking down on.

us, trying to make sure we're [music] safe. >> [music]. >> But we know that family was the center. of Laura Simoncin's life. Her legacy. lives on in her five children and now. four grandchildren. >> And David, there's an update on Jenny. Gammon's family. Her son recently. graduated from high school and now has a. thriving career in the military. That's. our program for tonight. Thanks so much.

for watching. I'm Deborah Roberts. >> And I'm David Muir. From all of us here. at 20/20 and ABC News. Good night.

>> Mhm.