Steven Zelich
A former West Allis police officer has pleaded not guilty to the killing of a Cottage Grove, Oregon woman, who investigators say was killed in a Kenosha hotel room two years ago.
52-year-old Steven Zelich entered the plea Monday in Kenosha County court on charges of homicide and hiding a corpse. Prosecutors say Zelich killed 19-year-old Jenny Gamez in 2012 during a sexual choking game, then hid her body in a suitcase.
Gamez’s body, along with the body of 37-year-old Laura Simonson of Farmington, Minnesota, were found in suitcases left along a road in Walworth County this past June. Charges are still pending in the death of Simonson, who investigators have said died under similar circumstances last fall in Rochester Minnesota.
Zelich will be back in court next month in Walworth County, where he’s charged with two counts of hiding a corpse. A status hearing in his Kenosha County case is set for October 21st.