A Wisconsin man accused of following his ex-boyfriend’s girlfriend has been convicted of his murder.
Law and Crime report that after 10 hours of deliberation, a jury in Kenosha County found Zachariah Anderson guilty of premeditated murder, concealing a corpse, and stalking his ex-girlfriend Sadie Beacham and her partner Rosalio Gutierrez Jr.
Wisconsin Man Kills Ex-Girlfriend’s Partner
Anderson’s attorneys argued during the trial that the absence of Gutierrez’s body was proof that there was no solid case. Nonetheless, Kenosha County. Michael Graveley, the district attorney, argued that Anderson was a jealous ex-boyfriend who was upset that Beacham ended their relationship.
Anderson had a bond with his and Beacham’s children, but Graveley stated she was “ready to move on” from their romantic relationship. Anderson, who remained emotionless and calm throughout the hearings, will be sentenced on May 16, according to Law & Crime.
Anderson’s attorney Nicole A. Muller declined to comment to PEOPLE, citing an ongoing appeal. Beacham ended her relationship with Anderson in February 2020, prior to interacting with Gutierrez on social media.
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DNA Evidence Was Submitted
During the trial, the prosecution presented genetic evidence as well as proof that Anderson had followed Gutierrez and visited his residence before his abduction. According to the news station, he later lied to authorities when questioned about the incident.
Anderson is accused of installing a burner phone in Beacham’s car to track her location and stalking her and the victim with a GPS tracker and recording device.
The news source reported that Gutierrez was declared formally missing on May 19, 2020, after police conducted a welfare check at his flat. There, cops discovered “huge quantities of blood” in his residence, and Beacham reported that Anderson had been stalking her and her family.
The day Gutierrez went missing, detectives discovered a burn pit, torn clothing, and a bleach bottle in Anderson’s residence. Gutierrez’s blood was found in Anderson’s Dodge minivan, along with a piece of carpet that smelled of bleach. The tree farm owned by the Anderson family also included additional garments and a second fire pit.
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