Wis. man arrested over 2 women's bodies in suitcases

Wisconsin police have arrested a 52-year-old man in connection with the bodies of two women found stuffed into suitcases in early June.

Town of Geneva police said Wednesday that Stephen Zelich, of West Allis, a Milwaukee suburb, was taken into custody, and that one of the victims had been identified. No charges were announced.

Police broke down the door to Zelich’s apartment Wednesday morning after no one answered, and investigators later began removing items from inside, neighbors toldthe Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

The bodies of 37-year-old Laura Simonson, of Farmington, Minn., and the second victim were found in separate suitcases June 5 by a highway worker mowing grass in the Town of Geneva, about 35 miles southwest of Milwaukee. Simonson’s mother had reported her missing in November from her Minneapolis-area home.

Police said the other woman may be Caucasian, between 15 and 34 years, with long dark hair, a pronounced overbite and a quarter-size heart tattoo on her lower abdomen.

Autopsies have been completed, but lab results could take up to two weeks more, Chief Steven Hurley said.

Wis. man arrested over 2 women's bodies in suitcases