06/26/2014

State of Wisconsin Circuit Court Walworth County

STATE OF WISCONSIN
Plaintiff,
-vs-

Steven M. Zelich
8011 W. Lincoln Ave., #1
West Allis, WI 53219
DOB: 10/29/1961
Sex/Race: M/W
Eye Color: Gray
Hair Color: Green
Height: 6 ft 2 in
Weight: 210 lbs
Defendant,

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

DA Case No.: 2014WL001416
Assigned DA/ADA: Daniel A Necci
Agency Case No.: 14-019957

Court Case No.: 14 CF

ATN:




______________________________ of the Walworth County Sheriff's Office, being first
duly sworn, on information and belief, states that:

Count 1: HIDING A CORPSE

The above-named defendant on Thursday, June 05, 2014, in the Town of Geneva,
Walworth County, Wisconsin, did hide a corpse with the intent to conceal a crime, contrary
to sec. 940.11(2) Wis. Stats., a Class G Felony, and upon conviction may be fined not
more than Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), or imprisoned not more than ten (10)
years, or both.

Count 2: HIDING A CORPSE

The above-named defendant on Thursday, June 05, 2014, in the Town of Geneva,
Walworth County, Wisconsin, did hide a corpse with the intent to conceal a crime, contrary
to sec. 940.11(2) Wis. Stats., a Class G Felony, and upon conviction may be fined not
more than Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), or imprisoned not more than ten (10)
years, or both.


PROBABLE CAUSE:

1) Your complainant makes this complaint based upon the following, all of which your
complainant believes to be reliable. The information in this complaint does not exhaust
your complainants knowledge of this incident.

2) Complainant has reviewed the reports of the Walworth County Sheriffs Office which
provide that on June 5, 2014, Detective Recknagel responded to a report of two deceased
subjects, and each were located in separate suitcases alongside N. Como Rd.,
approximately mile North of County Road H, in the Town of Geneva, Walworth County,
Wisconsin. Recknagel reports that one of the deceased subjects was identified by her
dental records as Laura J. Simonson. Recknagel reports that Simonson was found with a
STATE OF WISCONSIN - VS - Steven M. Zelich

06/26/2014 2
rope wrapped around her neck, had a sexual ball gag strapped into her mouth with a collar
and was naked. Recknagel reports that the second body, hereinafter referred to as Jane
Doe was partially concealed in black plastic garbage bag(s) and it was later discovered
that her hands were bound with rope behind her back. Recknagel reports that there were
obvious signs of decomposition indicating both deceased subjects had been deceased for
a long period of time.

3) Recknagel reports that he spoke with Walworth County Deputy Coroner Ron Wilson at
the scene on June 5, 2014, and that Wilson pronounced both individuals deceased at the
scene.

4) Recknagel reports that he spoke with a Steven M. Zelich, hereinafter referred to as the
Defendant, who stated that he met Jane Doe via an online chatting in 2012. Recknagel
reports that the Defendant stated that he and Doe met in person in late 2012, or early
2013, in Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Recknagel reports that the Defendant admitted that,
during that meeting he caused the death of Jane Doe. Recknagel reports that the
Defendant further admitted that, after causing her death, he put Jane Doe in a suitcase
and hid her at his home in West Allis, and that he later hid Jane Does body in his vehicle
in 2014.

5) Recknagel reports that the Defendant further admitted meeting Simonson online.
Recknagel reports that the Defendant admitted that he met personally with Simonson in
Rochester, Minnesota, in November of 2013. Recknagel reports that the Defendant further
admitted that, during this meeting with Simonson, he caused her death, put her in a
suitcase, and transported and hid her body in his vehicle.

6) Recknagel reports that the Defendant went on to admit that during the first week of
June 2014, he transported the bodies of Simonson and Jane Doe in the trunk of his vehicle
to the location officers discovered them in the Town of Geneva, Walworth County,
Wisconsin, where he hid them off of the road way in the tall grass.


Subscribed and sworn to before me,
and approved for filing on: _________________________________
Complainant
This _____ day of June, 2014.



_______________________________
Assistant District Attorney

State Bar No. for Assigned DA/ADA: 1055151