Steven Zelich Met 2 Women Online, Then Killed Them and Stuffed Their Bodies in Suitcases. Inside the Gruesome Case

The harrowing cases of Jenny Gamez and Laura Simonson, two women murdered by Steven Zelich, were the focus of a recent episode of ABC’s ’20/20′, which aired on October 16. Zelich, who ran into legal trouble in the past, pleaded guilty to both murders, which each occurred in 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The tragic events unfolded when the bodies of Gamez and Simonson were discovered in suitcases discarded along a rural highway in Geneva, Wisconsin. In June 2014, a highway worker stumbled across the gruesome scene while mowing grass, which subsequently led to an extensive investigation. As the bodies were in an advanced state of decomposition, authorities faced challenges identifying the victims. They were eventually linked through dental records to their respective families.

Jenny Gamez, a 19-year-old from Oregon, disappeared after travelling to Wisconsin to meet Zelich, a man she had met on a BDSM-themed website. After her family reported her missing, her case drew attention; however, it would take over a year for her remains to be discovered. Similarly, Laura Simonson, a 37-year-old mother of seven from Minnesota, vanished in November 2013. Her family reported her disappearance after they were unable to contact her, stating she was dedicated to her children and would not have left them voluntarily.

Authorities issued alerts regarding Simonson’s disappearance, prompting Motel staff in Rochester, Minnesota to recognise her from security footage. Once police learned that she had been in the company of an unidentified male at the motel, they began to investigate further. In the meantime, Law enforcement released a sketch of the second body discovered, which many of Gamez’s loved ones identified as hers.

Following the discovery of the women’s remains, investigators turned their attention to Zelich, who had previously worked as a police officer. His history included allegations of stalking women while on duty, which raised concerns about his character as a suspect. During the investigation, Zelich claimed that both women died accidentally during sexual activities that involved choking.

Zelich recounted in police interviews how he picked Gamez up after her flight and spent several days with her in a hotel before the incident occurred. He maintained that he lost control during their sexual play, leading to her untimely death. Both women’s bodies were stored in suitcases, which he concealed in his car until the decomposition became unbearable, prompting him to discard them.

Initially faced with charges of hiding a corpse, the gravity of Zelich’s actions eventually led to more severe charges. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide and hiding a corpse concerning Gamez’s death, receiving a 35-year prison sentence. He later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for Simonson’s killing, which added another 25 years to his sentence. An additional 10 years was imposed as a result of hiding their corpses.

Despite his guilty pleas, Zelich attempted to withdraw his plea related to Gamez’s case, claiming he was misled about the implications of evidence from the Minnesota case affecting his Wisconsin case. The current status of his withdrawal motion remains unclear as he serves his sentence at Dodge Correctional Institution in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

The tragic saga of Gamez and Simonson serves as a disturbing reminder of the dangers that can arise from online interactions, particularly in niche communities. As the impact of their deaths continues to resonate, the communities affected are left grappling with the untimely loss of two lives filled with potential. The ABC episode offers insight into the darker facets of human interactions within intimate relationships and the tragic consequences that can follow.

Both Gamez and Simonson’s stories exemplify the need for caution in personal engagements cultivated online, where anonymity sometimes masks a more sinister reality. The legacy of their brief lives is now overshadowed by the tragedy of their deaths, leaving their families and friends with lingering questions and heartache. The airing of Zelich’s crimes on a platform like ’20/20′ brings additional awareness and discussion surrounding the perils of online relationships and the importance of safety in the digital age.