A Predator Called ‘MrHandcuffs’: The Suitcase Murders // 631

Summary

Podcast Summary: Going West: True Crime – Episode 631
Title: MrHandcuffs: The Suitcase Murders
Date: August 4, 2026
Hosts: Daphne Woolsoncroft & Heath Merryman

---

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode, hosts Daphne and Heath delve into the shocking case of Steven Zelich, an ex-police officer whose secret life as “Mr. Handcuffs” led to the deaths of Jenny Gomez and Laura Simonson. The “Wisconsin Suitcase Murders” involved the discovery of two women’s bodies in suitcases along a rural road, unraveling a story about power, control, sexual fantasy, and manipulation—ultimately exposing the dangers of unchecked authority and predatory behavior masked by online personas.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery of the Suitcases and Initial Investigation

• Incident (03:37–09:42):

  • In June 2014, two suitcases containing female bodies were found by maintenance workers near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.
  • Both victims were bound, gagged with ball gags (suggesting sexual motivation), and at different states of decomposition.
  • The gruesome method of disposal sparked immediate fears of a serial killer at large.

  “Both of these suitcases were swarming with flies, and they reeked of decay.” —Heath (09:44)

2. Victim Backgrounds

a. Jenny Gomez (11:48–15:10)

• 19-year-old originally from California, raised in Oregon’s foster care system.
• Bright, outgoing student with a complicated family background; lost touch with family after moving out as a teen.
• Last seen in 2012, plans to attend college but disappeared after moving from Oak Ridge to Cottage Grove.
• Identified post-mortem by dental records.

“She was always this happy person and just so positive about everything, like a little ray of sunshine.” —Sonia, Jenny’s friend (12:02)

b. Laura Simonson (15:10–18:13)

• 37-year-old single mother from Minnesota, six children, struggled after loss of her disabled daughter and a divorce.
• Sought solace in online BDSM and fetish communities, gradually isolated from family.
• Left a concerning note; initially believed by family to just need space, but absence became alarming.

“I’m sorry I’m this way. I’m no good for the kids either. The best thing I can do is to stay away.” — Laura’s note (17:47)

3. Unraveling the Killer’s Double Life

a. Steven Zelich – His Police & Online Persona (03:37–08:33)

• From a law enforcement family; career began with acclaim but was marred by abuse of power and predatory behavior towards women.
• Eventually forced to resign after stalking, harassment, and an attempted sexual assault on a sex worker.
• Secured work as a security guard post-resignation, retaining means to exercise control.

“One person’s control and their need for power rules over other people’s lives, and it turns devastating very fast.” —Heath (01:45)

b. ‘Mr. Handcuffs’ and Predatory Online Behavior (24:19–28:35)

• Active as “Mr. Handcuffs” on BDSM websites seeking “permanent 24/7 slaves.”
• Known for seeking—and then isolating—vulnerable women drawn into his offline control.
• His online ads were explicit, requesting total, indefinite domination.

“There is nothing better than a slave tied tight, gagged, blindfolded, hooded, chained, caged, or being led by her collar with a leash…” —Mr. Handcuffs/Steven’s Profile (25:51)

4. Role of the Community and Investigation Breaks

• Friend Detective Work: Jeff’s Heroics (19:01–24:18)

  • Laura’s friend Jeff vigorously tracked online activity, leading police to Zelich’s identity.
  • Created online posts, tracked Steven’s whereabouts, and distributed his contact info to spur action and warn the community.

  “He did so much concerning this case.” —Heath (19:22) “Jeff made a huge difference in this case. Because not only is this about Laura, but it’s about Jenny, and Jeff is like, Jeff is on the move.” —Daphne (20:33)

• Hotel Clerk’s Observation (28:35–29:38)

  • Microtel Inn clerk noticed Laura did not check out, while Steven paid in cash and made Laura sign paperwork—further helping investigators.

5. Breakthrough & Arrest

• Digital and DNA Evidence (29:38–33:36)

  • Surveillance footage, rope knot analysis, and DNA matched Steven to the murders.
  • Upon arrest, Zelich attempted to bond with police by referencing his history as an officer, but quickly folded under evidence.

  “He thinks that if he can just kind of like, rub elbows with them, that they’re maybe gonna cut him a break…” —Heath (33:15) “When faced with the DNA evidence... Steven quickly folded, which we rarely see on this show.” —Daphne (33:36)

6. Details of the Crimes

• Modus Operandi & Aftermath (33:36–43:27)

  • Met both women online, lured them into dangerous situations under the guise of BDSM play.
  • Both victims died during asphyxiation (“breath control”) in a manner Steven characterized as accidental, but evidence, disposal, and subsequent behavior suggested otherwise.
  • Kept bodies in his home fridge and car for months; coworkers eventually reported the dreadful smell emanating from his vehicle.

  “Who out there could accidentally murder someone and have their body in the refrigerator of their home for over a year?” —Daphne (37:29) “...his boss even told him that it reeked of decay, as if there was a dead body inside.” —Daphne (40:44)

• Victim Isolation and Manipulation

  • Encouraged Laura to “disappear herself” from her family and records, deepening her vulnerability.

  “Wipe yourself off the face of the earth so that you can be mine and only mine.” —Heath (41:50)

7. Pattern, Prior Behavior, and Possible Other Victims

• Testimony from Former Girlfriend Jamie Bates (43:27–45:43)

  • Steven confessed to keeping a woman caged for years; she found bondage equipment in his home, corroborating a consistent, deeply disturbing pattern.

• Selection of Vulnerable Victims

  • Chose women experiencing life instability—suggesting there may be more unknown victims.

  “He sought out victims with backgrounds in which nobody would come looking for them.” —Heath (46:00)

8. Legal Consequences & Sentencing

• Conviction and Sentencing (46:36–48:47)

  • Pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and concealment of a corpse (2016 – 35 years for Jenny), and 25 years for Laura, with 10 extra for concealment (all concurrent, total 60 years; eligible for release after 58).

  • Minimal remorse shown in court:

    “I’m very sorry that this occurred, and I’m very sorry Jenny was the victim, and I wasn’t able to protect her the way I was supposed to.” —Steven Zelich (47:34) “...If I could undo that, that would be the most important thing I would do. Was not an intentional act.” —Steven Zelich (audio clip, 48:08)

  • May face additional undiscovered charges, as hosts strongly suspect other victims exist.

9. Aftermath and Legacy

• Impact on Families (48:47–49:29)
  • Laura’s family suffered further tragedy with the passing of her daughter Kaylee at 24.
• Serial Predators in Authority
  • Hosts reflect on the dangers of predators leveraging positions of power, secrecy, and online manipulation for exploitation.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Power and Control in Policing:

  “...his need for power rules over other people’s lives, and it turns devastating very fast.” —Heath (01:45)

• On Online Predation and Consent:

  “Something that’s very big in the BDSM community is consent. And I think that’s where this really differs with Steven…” —Daphne (26:07)

• On Chilling Detachment:

  “I think it’s a little bit less maybe about negligence and more about depravity...this shows a little bit different of a level of what’s going on in his head.” —Daphne (37:29)

• On the Importance of Advocacy:

  “Jeff is spearheading. I love you, Jeff. You’re a badass.” —Daphne (24:05)

• On Tragic Family Loss:

  “That family has been through so much.” —Heath (49:26)

---

Important Timestamps

• Case Introduction: 01:45
• Steven Zelich’s Police Background: 03:37–08:33
• Suitcase Discovery & Victim Identification: 09:06–15:10
• Laura Simonson’s Story: 15:10–18:13
• Online Investigation Led by Jeff: 19:22–24:18
• Steven’s Online Persona and Ads: 24:19–28:35
• Break in Case/Arrest: 29:38–33:36
• Crime Details & Modus Operandi: 33:36–43:27
• Former Girlfriend’s Testimony: 43:27–45:43
• Charges, Sentencing, and Remorse: 46:36–48:47
• Possible Other Victims & Aftermath: 49:29–End

---

Tone & Takeaways

The episode maintains Going West’s characteristic blend of conversational storytelling, chilling details, and compassionate victim focus. Daphne and Heath voice disgust at Steven’s manipulations and the justice system’s limitations while commending the everyday citizens (notably Jeff) whose vigilance brought answers. They caution about predators who exploit positions of trust and the necessity of true, informed consent—and raise awareness for vulnerable individuals drawn into dangerous situations, both online and off.

---

For further resources and photos (Jenny, Laura), visit:
Instagram: @goingwestpodcast | Facebook | TikTok

---

Transcript

[Advertiser]

I love my phone, but not my carrier.

What do I do?

[Daphne]

Well, there are 250 reasons to join T Mobile.

[Advertiser]

Like what?

[Daphne]

You can keep your phone and your number and T Mobile helps pay it off up to $800 per line.

[Heath]

So I wouldn't have to buy a new phone?

[Advertiser]

Yep.

[Daphne]

Plus your plan price stays the same for 5 years on experience plans. Nice. Find your reason@t mobile.com

[Advertiser]

via virtual prebaid guard card typically takes 15 days after rebate submission price guarantee on TalkText and 5G data exclusions like taxes and fees apply.

[Heath]

Consider lunch solved with Landa Frost premium lunch meat.

[Daphne]

It's the smart choice for families. It's packed with 8 plus grams of protein per serving so you can fuel your day without overspending at checkout. There's no artificial flavors or byproducts, and

[Heath]

Land of Frost has a variety of flavors that everybody in the family can enjoy. From Black forest ham, honey smoked turkey, even hot honey ham and chicken chop.

[Daphne]

Landofrost premium lunch meat at your favorite local grocery store.

[Advertiser]

Courage. I learned it from my adoptive mom.

[Adopt Us Kids Representative]

Hold my hand. You hold my hand. Learn about adopting a teen from foster [e-mail] you can't imagine the reward. Brought to you by Adopt Us Kids, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the AD Council.

[Heath]

What is going on, true crime fans? I'm your host, Heath.

[Daphne]

And I'm your host, Daphne.

[Heath]

And you're listening to Going West.

[Daphne]

Hello, everybody. Thank you for tuning in today. Hope you're all doing well. Thank you to Jay, who recommended today's freaking wild story.

[Heath]

Yes, thank you, Jay. This is one of those cases where one person's control and their need for power rules over other people's lives, and it turns devastating very fast.

[Daphne]

And a story where it really feels like we are talking about a serial killer or somebody who would have very well turned into a serial killer had they had time to do so.

[Heath]

Absolutely. He was definitely on the path to becoming a horrific serial killer.

[Daphne]

This is going to be a wild one today. So buckle up. And without further ado.

[Heath]

All right, guys, this is. This is episode 631 of Going West. So let's get into it.

[Daphne]

In 2014, two abandoned suitcases were discovered along a rural Wisconsin road. But the victims ran completely different. One, a teenager from the west coast and the other, a Midwestern mom. But through their identities, investigators uncovered a shocking situation. A former police officer who had spent years cultivating a secret life under the online alias Mr. Handcuffs. These are the murders of Jenny Gomez and Laura Simonson. And the crimes of the Wisconsin suitcase murderer, also known as Steven Zelich. Steven Zelich was born on October 29, 1961, into a law enforcement family, which is something he was very proud of growing up, which is why he wanted to be an officer later on, because his dad had been one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for just shy of 50 years. So Stephen decided to follow in his daddy's footsteps. Steps starting out at the Mequon Police Department on Milwaukee's northwest side. But in 1989, when Stephen was in his late 20s, he left in favor of the West Allis Police Department in southwest Milwaukee, where he would remain for the next 12 years. At the beginning of his tenure as an officer, Stephen was known for being respectful, confident, and honest.

[Heath]

But that was definitely not who he actually was.

[Daphne]

No. It's so interesting. As you guys will see today, we're going to talk a lot about his outward Persona versus his inward Persona.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

So, again, people really liked him down at the station. But in 2000 and 2001, professional opinions about him began to shift. Women frequently complained that Stephen would stalk and harass them while on duty and repeatedly asked them out on dates, hoping that they would relent and go out with him.

[Heath]

Yeah. I'm sure that he thought that his position as a police officer was, like, enough to, like, make women interested in him.

[Daphne]

Yeah. And when. When it wasn't enough, he would stalk them.

[Heath]

Yeah, exactly.

[Daphne]

He would frequent strip clubs, and especially, like, this one club called the Spotlight, where he would claim that he was doing routine checks to maintain order, but instead, he. He would lurk inside the club and watch the dancers perform.

[Heath]

Yeah. He's like, I'm just here to make sure everything is going smoothly.

[Daphne]

So weirdo creepy, like, on the job.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

Well, multiple dancers came forward to complain about his predatory behavior, with one even saying that he had blocked her access to her vehicle in hopes that she would go home with him.

[Heath]

So now he's like. He's not even letting, like, women leave. He's just blocking them and being like, hey, I'll move my car if you go out with me.

[Daphne]

Yeah, he's try. It's putting them in a trap.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

So luckily, a quiet investigation began, and his fellow officer started to really observe his behavior. He was written up for failure to conform to the law, unbecoming conduct, making false reports, a lack of truthfulness, and abuse of position, which I just love to see that. That he's being held accountable for making so many women uncomfortable.

[Heath]

Totally. Yeah. Because a lot of times in These different departments, they'll stick up for their own.

[Daphne]

I know. That's what I mean.

[Heath]

It's like they kind of have, like, a code of silence.

[Daphne]

They weren't doing that with him, though, which is so great because he would have continued to do this. And now we have this on record for later, that this is what was going on with Steven and this is how he was abusing his power. But his behavior really escalated when one night, Steven brought a sex worker home with him and scared her so badly that she ran naked from his apartment, screaming in fear, alleging that he had tried to rape her. Stephen naturally tried to downplay the ordeal, claiming that she had stolen money from him, but that he didn't report it because of the embarrassment factor.

[Heath]

Okay, yeah, sure, Stephen, sure.

[Daphne]

Even when an investigation was conducted, he continued to deny her version of events, though he did admit that they had a physical altercation, telling the interviewing officer that he had manhandled her, choking her and grabbing her wrist. He said that he did this to restrain her so that he could reach for his handcuffs. Remember that? But that she then sprinted from his apartment before he could. He chased after her, but when it was clear that he wasn't getting her back inside, he tossed her clothing into the hallway of his apartment building and closed the door while she sought help. So Steven seemed to view this as some really bizarre act of self defense because, as he said before, she stole from him.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

So he was gonna cuff her naked in his home.

[Heath]

Exactly. I'm the victim here. It's really giving John Wayne Gacy. I don't know if you remember. Remember that he would do the handcuff trick where it's like he would put the handcuffs on himself and then he would get out of him, and then he'd say, oh, do you want to try this trick too? And then he would put the handcuffs on his victim, but then the victim couldn't get out of the handcuffs. That's how I didn't know that. Manipulated his victims into that situation. So Steven is really kind of giving that right here.

[Daphne]

He really is very disturbing, very manipulative. Well, he said outright to his fellow officers, quote, unquote, I don't think I did anything wrong at all. Pending another internal investigation, Stephen was suspended for 20 days. But the police chief was appalled at his behavior and recommended his termination. But wanting to get ahead of the charges that may be filed against him, Stephen just resigned, effective on August 17, 2001. Yeah, he wasn't getting out of it.

[Heath]

Exactly. He knew he was going to get Fired. So he's like, I'll just leave.

[Daphne]

But then it would kind of bode well for him, moving to a different job, not having just been fired from a long time position. So he kind of won here in a way, though I'm sure if they had, you know, called, called the station, they wouldn't have gotten a good story. His next boss. But I will say he did find another job, and not a good one for the community because he found work as a security guard. So still in a position of power where he's supposed to protect people, which is where he worked until the next time he found himself in trouble with the law.

[Heath]

Because on June 5, 2014, on a remote road near Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, which is like this beloved resort town about an hour southwest of Milwaukee, a maintenance crew stumbled upon a very shocking discovery. So while they were trimming the grass along the road near the intersection of Geneva's Como highway and and county highway H, they stumbled onto not one, but two suitcases discarded in the brush on the side of the road, which obviously, when you come upon something like that, it's never a good sign, especially with

[Daphne]

what you're about to say.

[Heath]

So both of these suitcases were swarming with flies, and they reeked of decay. And the men knew that they had stumbled upon decomposing bodies. I mean, they knew right away, just from the. The flies and the smell, they're like, this can't be good. Well, inside one of the suitcases, the victim was shrouded in a black trash bag, her hand protruding from the plastic. And shockingly, her hand at that point was mummified. Both women were bound with rope and had been before they were murdered. And both were gagged with ball gags, which of course, kind of hinted to the killings being, like, sexually motivated. So investigators closed down a large section of the rural road, looking for more potential bodies and more evidence. Because they're like, we found two bodies and two suitcases. What if there's more? But they instantly suspected, because of the way that the women were discarded, that they were in fact dealing with a serial killer. So acting fast, police departments across the country were notified in hopes of identifying the victims. Now, the woman who had become mummified was eventually identified via her dental records and. And was confirmed to be that of 19 year old Jenny Marie Gomez, a teenager from across the country. Jenny was born on April 9, 1993 in San Diego, though she spent most of her life in Oregon. I will say that her family situation was complicated from birth because her dad reportedly lived in another country. And she was out of contact with her mom for most of her life. Thus, she entered the foster care system at around age 5. So while in foster care, she had a baby as an early teen, but the baby's father actually wound up with custody when Jenny struggled under the weight of the responsibility. However, despite her humble beginnings, she was a devoted student. And according to her foster mom, Lorraine Erickson, she had actually earned a scholarship to the junior college that she was planning on attending. After graduating from Oak Ridge High School in the tiny mountain town of Oak Ridge, Oregon, Daphne, you know it very well.

[Daphne]

I do.

[Heath]

She moved in with some friends in Cottage Grove, Oregon, which is nearby and just outside of the city of Eugene, which is where I'm from now. It was there that she was last seen in 2012.

[Daphne]

Well, a friend of Jenny's named Sonya remembered Jenny as, quote, super bubbly and outgoing, Just a friendly personality. She was always this happy person and just so positive about everything, like a little ray of sunshine. But before they even knew who she was, when a police sketch of what the victim may have looked like began to circulate. Friends and family back home in Oregon claim they knew it was her even before her dental records officially confirmed her identity, which I find really interesting. We're going to put it up for everybody that's watching on YouTube. It's kind of a creepy police sketch. But of course, with her body being as decomposed as it was, they did the best that they could, but they kind of imagined her with dark hair when she was a little bit more of a blonde. Yeah.

[Heath]

I feel like it would have been really hard to look at that police sketch and go, oh, that's Jenny. You know what I mean?

[Daphne]

I know. I. I like looking at, like, I don't. I don't think it looks like Jenny. But also, we don't know Jenny, because I will say her friend Sonia added, quote, it would make sense it would be her. I have, like, no doubt it was her. The black and white picture, they have big front top teeth, her little eyes, and high cheekbones. So just really interesting that they had this inkling upon seeing this sketch because this was such big news that this was Jenny and it actually was.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

Well, according to both Lorraine and Sonia, Jenny had fallen out of touch with her friends and foster family prior to her disappearance. So nobody knew that she was even in danger, because after she moved to Cottage Grove, her loved ones just assumed that she was keeping busy and kind of moving on with her new life. After she left Oak Ridge, Sonia admitted Quote, the few of us who were really, really close with her lost contact and hadn't heard from her. Her foster mom, Lorraine added, quote, I was surprised that I didn't hear from her. I knew she spent some time in California with friends, but her friends in Cottage Grove said she stopped texting with them and after that we would not get in touch with her.

[Heath]

Yeah. And remember, Jenny was originally from California. She was from San Diego. So not too strange that she would be, you know, back in San Diego. But the more strange part here is how she wound up in Wisconsin, truly,

[Daphne]

which is really the big mystery. And how they're starting this investigation of trying to piece the puzzle pieces together to follow that trail.

[Heath]

Exactly.

[Daphne]

Which there is going to be a very clear trail.

[Advertiser]

But it's.

[Daphne]

Yeah, I mean, she was about 18 years old when she went missing. So of course I understand that her family and friends aren't keeping strong tabs on her. She's a young woman, she's starting a new life in Cottage Grove.

[Heath]

Sure.

[Daphne]

And so, you know, she's kind of just spreading her wings. But little did they know, again, she was in a very dangerous situation with a very dangerous person. Well, Lorraine described Jenny as, quote, a joy to be around, remembering, quote. She, she was an upbeat kid who wasn't afraid of trying new things. She even took a sculpture class. Other kids all loved her. We were pretty close and it was devastating.

[Heath]

Well, now let's talk about the second victim here. So the second victim of these suitcase murders was totally different from Jenny, but had a similarly heartbreaking family story. Laura Jean Simonson was born on March 27, 1976, and she spent her whole life in Minnesota. She had been missing since November of 2014 and her body was quickly identified by both her tattoos as well as her dental records.

[Daphne]

So there's a couple years between when Jenny was last seen and when Laura

[Heath]

was last seen right now, where Jenny was 19 and from the West Coast. Laura was a 37 year old single mom living in Farmington, Minnesota at the time that she disappeared. She had married her husband, Troy Simonson, very young and they had six children together, one daughter and five sons who joined her daughter Kaylee from Laura's previous relationship. But Laura and Troy divorced six years before her disappearance. Their daughter Alyssa sadly suffered an accident when she was just a toddler that rendered her blind and with permanent brain damage. And she passed away on June 20, 2013, shortly before her 13th birthday. And I know that this really had a heavy impact on Laura. So navigating her daughter's care and subsequent death, all while she was going through. This divorce left Laura overwhelmed and depressed, and she sought comfort and escape in her online Persona and in indulging her sexual fantasies. So she began talking to men on fetish and dating websites, hoping to explore her interest in the BDSM lifestyle. Similarly to what happened to Jenny, she began isolating herself from her family. Now, before she vanished, her oldest daughter, Kaylee, actually started a fundraiser online for her mom in the aftermath of Alyssa's death. Knowing how deeply it was affecting her mom, Kaylee wrote in the description, well, it all started when Laura had a beautiful family, happy with their mother. They were smiling and dancing till they got tired. We had a good life until the county took all of us away. We cried for our mom every night. We still do at this time of our years. We worried about our mom, and we were scared with people who we don't know. And then Kaylee went on to say that because Laura found herself, you know, basically in over her head, and Troy was in prison at the time that she and her siblings were split up, and some of them suffered sexual abuse at the hands of their foster parents, Kaylee added, quote, my mother is homeless. Her car is breaking down, and her car is her only shelter that she has.

[Daphne]

Well, unlike Jenny, Laura was reported missing. She was last seen on November 2, 2014. And initially, she left a note behind for her family that read, quote, I'm sorry I'm this way. I'm no good for the kids either. The best thing I can do is to stay away. I'm going to find a place to go so no one has to deal with me again. I love you all and always will.

[Heath]

Yeah, she was really, really going through such a tough time during this period, and unfortunately, she, you know, as you guys are gonna see, she ran into a monster.

[Daphne]

Well, I kind of wonder if this note was even really coming from her heart or if she was kind of puppeteered into writing something like this, because I know she really was experiencing such a deep hardship at this time. But as we're going to talk about, it does feel like she was very much forced into a certain situation. So, although it kind of sounded eerily like a suicide note, her family knew that she had been struggling recently, especially in the wake of her daughter's death. So they just assumed that she needed time for herself and didn't think that she was going to end her life. They just felt like she needed her space.

[Heath]

Yeah, she was stepping out for a minute until she could kind of get herself together.

[Daphne]

But as Days turned to weeks. Her family grew antsy and concerned. A friend of Laura's named Jeff even stopped by Laura's mom Mary's house where she would sometimes stay, to tip her off that he too was concerned about Laura's well being and whereabouts, and admitted that he was worried that something more sinister may be going on.

[Heath]

I gotta say, before we continue, Jeff really is the MVP here. Like he. He did so much concerning this case. As you're going to get into here in a sec.

[Daphne]

Yeah. So Laura's car was searched and inside she had left her phone and wallet behind, which was really weird. So Mary officially reported her missing on November 22, 2013. But thankfully, like you're saying, Heath, Jeff was really passionate about figuring out what was going on with Laura. And he was also privy to the passwords to her phone and social media accounts. And what he found was a treasure trove of correspondence on apps for the BDSM community. So he passed along these tips to the police, wondering if maybe she had met up with a man who had ended up hurting her. Jeff was actually the one to tip police off about Steven Zelich's identity and whereabouts because he himself tracked him down through his online activity in the fetish community.

[Heath]

Love, Jeff.

[Daphne]

I know Jeff. Jeff made a huge difference in this case.

[Heath]

He really did.

[Daphne]

Because not only is this about Laura, but it's about Jenny, and Jeff is like, Jeff is on the move. Well, Jeff then published a digital missing persons ad looking for Laura, alleging that he believed Steven was keeping Laura in custody, likely shackled and in a cage against her will.

[Advertiser]

You've heard it a thousand times. You've got to eat enough protein but just still want it to taste good. Fulfill Protein bars are seriously delicious, seriously convenient ways to hit those protein goals on the go. Fulfill Protein is a delicious protein bar that tastes like a candy bar and fits into your everyday life. Grab a chocolate salted caramel bar for the perfect sweet and salty combination. Or if you're a peanut butter and chocolate person, filling fulfilled Chocolate peanut butter with Reese's flavor is so good so you can power your days with indulgent chocolatey taste, double dipped chocolatey coating and a soft and chewy nougat style center. And the best part, every Fulfill bar packs a whopping 20 grams of protein with eight vitamins and only one to two grams of sugar. So break up with your candy bar. Shop Fulfill Protein on Amazon at a retailer near you or go to livefulfill.com for more information.

[Heath]

If you're a fan of home cooked meals without the hassle. Then you need to check out Home Chef.

[Daphne]

They've worked with chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Giada De Laurentiis, bringing restaurant quality recipes straight to your kitchen. And I mean, people really love it, including us.

[Heath]

Also, Home Chef is rated number one by users of other meal kits for quality, convenience, value, taste, as well as recipe ease. On Giada's menu, they've got seared salmon orzo with capers and sun dried tomato

[Daphne]

pesto, effortless parmesan shrimp risotto, Giada's veggie packed beef bolognese, one pan Italian chicken Florentine, which is this creamy lemon pasta with spinach and chicken and so much more.

[Heath]

And it's so nice to have convenient, healthy meal kits with fresh ingredients.

[Daphne]

Yeah. And everything tastes so good. There's so much variety. There's something for everybody. And it just makes eating fresh food at home so much easier and more approachable. So for a limited time, Home Chef is offering our listeners 50% off and free shipping for your first box. Plus free dessert for life.

[Heath]

Go to homechef.com goingwest that's homechef.com goingwest

[Daphne]

for 50% off your first box and free dessert for life.

[Heath]

Homechef.com goingwest must be an active subscriber to receive free dessert. So Jeff's online post read, quote, steven Mark Zelich is a sadist who has enslaved a petite female named Lara Jean Simonson. He keeps her naked, handcuffed, shackled, and caged. He has no intention of ever releasing this poor woman who suffers from various mental disabilities. She has been whipped and tortured by Stephen mark Zelich since November 2, 2013. Laura is the mother of seven young children and has not been allowed by Stephen to contact them in any way. The police have not been able to locate where Steven has Laura imprisoned. Please join our effort to find and free Laura Simonson. I encourage you to harass Stephen constantly by calling his cell phone repeatedly and flooding his email inbox with similar messages.

[Daphne]

Jeff is spearheading.

[Heath]

Yeah, he's like, fucking harass this guy.

[Daphne]

I love you, Jeff. You're a badass.

[Heath]

Yeah. I mean, he even provided Steven's contact information to people who came across this post so that they could join him in badgering Steven into releasing Laura.

[Daphne]

Incredible.

[Heath]

Jeff also tipped the police off that based on his research, she and Steven had likely been headed to a hotel. So the missing persons report was sent out to dozens of hotels that were in the state of Minnesota just in hopes that it would garner a tip. Well, let's Flip over to Stephen's life at this point because Jeff was correct about him being very big in the BDSM community because Steven had been referring to himself as Mr. Handcuffs, lurking behind that Persona online since 2007, and was active on multiple different websites, including dating apps, as well as Caller Space, which is a website for BDSM individuals to meet and find their right community. And he was actually active on collar space up until the day that he was arrested. But jumping back so his profile on the site read, seeking a long term permanent 24. 7 slave for absolute ownership Slavery. There is nothing better than a slave tied tight, gagged, blindfolded, hooded, chained, caged, or being led by her collar with a leash, wearing wrist and ankle manacles. This is a position of total enslavement for one who understands needs, desires, craves, and must be controlled by another. This slave understands the incredible connection between owner and owned. Ew.

[Daphne]

Damn.

[Heath]

He's. You know, it's like, I'm not trying to shit on that fetish community at all, but just knowing who Steven is, the fact that he has such an ego and he feels the need to have power and control over other people, it's just. It's so dangerous.

[Daphne]

Something that's very big in the BDSM community is consent. And I think that's where this really differs with Steven, because this is about manipulation, becoming a whacked up form of consent that's not actual real consent. He wants to force people to be a slave for him. As we're going to see, he twists people into becoming something that he wants them to be and then he controls them.

[Heath]

Yeah, I mean, this guy is. Oh my gosh, he's so sick and depraved, truly.

[Daphne]

And his profile didn't portray his depraved desire to murder.

[Heath]

Yeah, I mean, in his profile he just looked like a normal guy.

[Daphne]

He's like, his picture is him with like a. A smirk. And you know, he seems like. I mean, I don't know, I don't know what the picture would be that would make him look like a murderer.

[Heath]

Well, you always kind of, you know, it's so, it's so interesting because we talk about so many true crime cases that it's like you always want to imagine that the perpetrator has like some big scar running through down their eyes.

[Daphne]

The scar always kills.

[Heath]

You know what I mean? But like, most of these people are just. They look like regular human, human beings and they're hiding these deep, dark, disgusting secrets.

[Daphne]

Scars are normal.

[Heath]

Well, no, I just mean you know what I'm talking about.

[Daphne]

I just think it's so funny. You always use that as an example. Of course I know what you mean.

[Heath]

Like up teeth and a big scar and, like, you know.

[Daphne]

But he does look quite, quote, unquote, normal.

[Heath]

He does.

[Adopt Us Kids Representative]

He.

[Daphne]

You'll. You guys will see if you're watching on YouTube, you can already see right now. Well, he was also very active in online chat rooms for the BDSM community. Like, for example, on a Yahoo Community board called Master B Slave Club, Stephen wrote, quote, I seek no limit, no release, enslavement, imprisonment, captivity, animalization. Ideally, in a farm caged situation. If this level of control interests you, please feel free to make contact. And one woman.

[Heath]

Must have been a long line, huh? I love being caged and beaten and all that stuff.

[Daphne]

One woman even inquired, are you serious? Which I assume she meant, are you serious?

[Heath]

Like, you kidding me, buddy?

[Daphne]

Wait, really? To which he responded with extremely serious. If you know of a slave who desires this level, please let me know. Jeff's dogged determination to find his friend rather really paid off, because Jeff is amazing because, as well. A clerk from the front desk of a Microtel Inn and Suites in Rochester, Minnesota, remembered seeing Laura, whom she described as a petite, nervous, blonde woman, check into the hotel, but not out.

[Heath]

Obviously. That's very suspicious and good of this woman to this clerk to clock that Stephen and Laura had checked into the hotel, but only Steven is gonna check out.

[Daphne]

Well, she was getting a lot of red flags from the situation because Steven, she noted, was seen coming and going. She actually recalled that Laura seemed troubled, and she wondered if she was afraid of the man that she was traveling with. So she was really paying attention. Steven was the only guest that evening, and he even paid for the room in cash. But he made Laura sign her name on the paperwork. So we also have a paper trail with Laura's name on it, which also

[Heath]

just kind of leads me to believe that Steven didn't want his name on the paperwork so that he could potentially get away with all of this nefarious shit that he's trying to do.

[Daphne]

Even though he's seen on surveillance, he's being seen by a witness, that is the clerk. Like, you're not really thinking this the whole way through. So the clerk was so rattled by the interaction that she actually saved that security full footage just in case. And when they received word of the missing person's report, she then tipped off police with what she felt was valuable information, which, of course, it was. Now, based on the forensic and Eyewitness evidence stacking up against him. Detectives paid Steven Zellich a little visit in his West Dallas apartment, and he warmly invited them in. Remember, at this point he was off the force and he was working in a security position, but I'm sure he was like, hey, I'm one of you guys.

[Heath]

Hey, buddies.

[Advertiser]

Like, we're.

[Heath]

We're both cops. And they're like, we go back, they're like, no, you're not. You're a security guard.

[Daphne]

So when the detective informed him that they were investigating a missing person named Laura Simonson, who they thought he knew, he readily admitted that they had chatted online, like he wasn't concealing that they had a connection. But he denied ever meeting up in person, not realizing that police were in possession of security camera footage that captured Steven perfectly pushing a luggage cart out of the lobby of that Microtel after checking in with her the night before. Like, yeah, caught in a lie.

[Heath]

Yeah. And it's so. It's like, dude, how were you a police officer and you didn't have the. I don't know. Anyway, he's a moron.

[Daphne]

Didn't he?

[Heath]

Yeah, he's a moron.

[Daphne]

Stephen maintained that he never had any intention of meeting with Laura in person and that he was just enjoying this online fantasy with her. But police were already keeping an eye on him and had even placed trackers on his car because they, you know, they knew the previous suspicions of him when he was on the force. They knew about the rape allegations, so they knew that he had the seedy history. They knew he was somebody to watch as it was, and they knew that he was hiding something because they caught him in a lie.

[Heath]

Yeah, this was very smart of them. I'm so glad that they did this. It really was leaning towards the fact that Steven was guilty of murdering these two women. And, you know, obviously they just wanted to make sure that he wasn't gonna be able to do this to another person. Well, they asked to search his computer and also asked for a DNA sample. And surprisingly, Steven obliged to both. And guess what? The DNA sample that he offered up matched a knot that was tied in the rope found around Laura's body. So he is cooked. So police gleaned a search warrant for his apartment, which was squalid at best. And the bondage gear, cleaning supplies, and even his fridge were all removed for further investigation. On June 25, 2014, detectives arrived at Steven's workplace to take him into custody. And when he was informed that he was being arrested, 52 year old Stephen was Amiable and sat down to chat with them, casually even telling the officers how much he respected them. You know, as a former officer himself, which, ugh, it bothers me to my core when we find out that police officers and former police officers have murdered people, because it's like your entire fucking thing is to protect and serve.

[Daphne]

And I think it's very clear that he's trying to chummy up with them so that, of course, he can fit in and be like, I'm one of you guys. We had the same job. I'm not a bad guy.

[Heath]

Yeah. He thinks that if he can just kind of like, rub elbows with them, that they're maybe gonna cut him a break and go, huh? I mean, this guy, he was on the force. He's a great guy over here.

[Daphne]

As if he was not almost terminated and essentially forced to resign.

[Heath]

Exactly. Everybody knows that you're a piece of shit already.

[Daphne]

Yeah. It's not like you have a good reputation, man.

[Heath]

Well, when faced with the DNA evidence that was stacked against him, Steven quickly folded, which we rarely see on this show. But Steven twisted a story. He said that he had met Jenny, who was over 30 years his junior, in 2012, so two years earlier, when she was about 19, on a BDSM website, just as he had with Laura. He explained that he flew Jenny out to be his slave around August of 2012 and drove her to Kenosha, Wisconsin, which is about 45 minutes south of Milwaukee, where he rented a room at a Queen Quality in. Stephen explained that he started engaging in breath control, or breath play, which is intentional strangulation for sexual pleasure. But they had no safe word, apparently, according to Steven. So Stephen explained that he relished the control aspect of it and that he would constrict and then release the rope around her neck as he pleased, but that he wound up pulling the ropes too hard and that he strangled Jenny to death. But he claimed that. Of course, he claimed that it was an accident.

[Daphne]

I think it's very interesting to note as well that he is the one saying, of course there's nobody else here to say it, but he is saying that there was no safe word, as if to say, there was no way for her to tell me to stop and that I was going too hard.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

As if that will help his case.

[Heath]

Yeah, exactly. He's trying to kind of shift the blame a little bit away from himself. But it's like, you take all of the blame for this. Well, to cover for himself, he loaded Jenny into her own suitcase, checked out of the hotel and brought her body home with him, stashing her in the fridge, still inside of that suitcase, which is why, of course, it was taken as evidence. And guess what? Somehow she was inside his fridge. For over a year. Her body continued to decompose, and. And Steven eventually duct taped the fridge closed, but when he could no longer avoid it, he removed her from the fridge in either December of 2013 or January of 2014, placing her in the trunk of his car instead. Laura's body, also inside her suitcase, was right next to Jenny's.

[Daphne]

What was his plan here? Because obviously he's not being very careful with the. The disposal or not getting DNA on the suitcases, or, like, he's not being careful with any of this. The fact that in his home refrigerator was a deceased woman stuffed inside a suitcase for over a year, and it was becoming such a problem in his home that he lived in every single day that he had to duct tape it shut is so disgusting.

[Heath]

Oh, my God. It's. It's horrifying. And also, you know, on top of this, I really don't think that Steven had a plan. I think he was just kind of letting his ego drive, like, whatever was happening in his life.

[Daphne]

Yeah. Because then to put her in the car, when there's all different types of elements going on outside, it can be hot. And that could be worse. Like, I mean, I think you're gonna get into how that's gonna negatively impact him, that they were in his car. But it's like, what are you thinking? What is going through the head here?

[Heath]

Clearly, Steven was not thinking at all.

[Daphne]

And I will say as well, surely it has happened many times in history where somebody has accidentally been killed during sex in a very similar situation to this. But the fact that he is trying to paint these situations as accidents. You accidentally murdered two different women.

[Heath]

Yeah. No, I don't believe you. Because. Okay, let's say that it was an accident the first time. I think you would probably avoid doing that or, like, getting into those fetishes again if, like, you can't control yourself. And it was. I don't believe him at all, though. I think it was all intentional.

[Daphne]

I got to say, too, I feel like it's a little bit less maybe about negligence and more about depravity. The fact that he kept her in the fridge, like, yeah, who. Who out there could accidentally murder someone and have their body in the refrigerator of their home for over a year? Like, this shows a little bit different of a level of what's going on in his head. In my opinion.

[Heath]

Yeah, I agree with you. Well, Jenny's foster mom, Lorraine, said in shock, quote, I'm also surprised she was involved with a man that age. It wasn't what she would do here. She never ran around with kids that were more than a year or two older than her.

[Daphne]

I also can't imagine that Lorraine would know what was going on in Jenny's sex life especially. I feel like things in the BDSM community are usually a little bit more private. Unless you're in the community, I don't

[Heath]

think you're going around telling your family about, you know, your sexual fantasies.

[Daphne]

Probably not. But I think knowing that Jenny did then likely get on a plane and go to Wisconsin by choice, then we would know. Of course, as evidence would show that she did meet Steven online and agreed to go out there and meet him, potentially after having been manipulated. But it's kind of hard because we don't really have this background for her as far as it goes, for her ever meeting up with anybody else or how she got into this.

[Heath]

We also don't know the promises that Steven potentially made to Jenny, saying, oh, hey, if you come out here and you're. You be my slave, I'll. I'll do this for you, or whatever. He could have easily manipulated her that way.

[Daphne]

Well, I will say Laura's murder had a similar story. So she had been trying to sell her car, but there were no takers. So she left the van abandoned on her mom's street after dropping off that note and walked to a nearby elementary school, where Steven picked her up. He then drove them to the Microtel Inn and Suites in Rochester. And after he strangled her, accidentally strangling her to death, he folded her into her own suitcase, the same way that he disposed of Jenny and went to bed sleeping just feet away from Laura's body.

[Heath]

That's why I don't think that he can even try to claim that this was accidental. The fact that you can sleep next to a body of a woman that you just killed, that just shows that you were completely unbothered.

[Daphne]

And cooking in a kitchen next to a refrigerator with another woman's body inside of it, this is, again, fucking despicable. It's depraved. This is not an accident. And you're like, oh, my God, now I have to figure this out. No, you did this on purpose, in my opinion. Well, in the morning, he then loaded Laura onto a luggage cart. This was caught on camera the him wheeling her out.

[Heath]

Right.

[Daphne]

And transported her body to his car, where she remained until he disposed of her on the side of the road months later. Their bodies were left in his trunk for so long. This is what I was saying earlier that actually I'm telling you guys that his co workers and the employees of the corporate headquarters at which he worked began to complain about the smell emanating from his car in the parking lot.

[Heath]

I mean, could you imagine? Could you imagine?

[Daphne]

What else? What else? Yeah, it's so disturbing because his boss even told him that it reeked of decay, as if there was a dead body inside and that he needed to remedy the issue by the following day. This is such a big deal that his boss is like, it smells like you have a dead body in your car.

[Heath]

And it's crazy. It's crazy to me that the boss actually said that and he actually did have a dead body in his car.

[Daphne]

How disturbing for that boss after he found out to know that he was correct.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

And that that is exactly what he smelled. It's so disturbing. So Steven drove onto a secluded two lane road near Lake Geneva and discarded of the women like they were garbage. Which of course is how they were finally found. Well, sadly, Laura's murder came after Stephen encouraged her to lean forward full tilt into the slave Persona that he created for her. He told her that she should stop paying her bills, allow her mail to stack up, decline to renew her license and registration, and fully disappear herself into the fantasy of his enslavement.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

He's saying strangely particular list.

[Heath]

Yeah. Just like wipe yourself off the face of the earth so that you can be mine and only mine. I don't want anybody to have anything to do with you anymore. You are my slave.

[Daphne]

Which is why I wonder if that note that she wrote really came from her own soul and wasn't something that Steven told her to write. Yeah.

[Heath]

Convinced her to.

[Daphne]

Yeah. Because this is what he's saying. He's telling her to cut ties with her life and that's what she did. And really quick, before I forget, just the fact that we know that both women likely then died during sex and they were both found in those suitcases with the ball gags in their mouths and attached to their heads is so disturbing that he left those on.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

And also feels very careless as well, because it gave the investigation a big look into what had happened before these women died. And like you said earlier, it kind of helped prove that this was sexually motivated before they had more evidence. Why did he do that?

[Heath]

Yeah. I don't know. And also very disturbing, the fact that the only reason why he discarded of their bodies in the first place was because his job was literally like, take care of your stinky car or we're gonna fire you. And then he's like, well, I guess I gotta get rid of him then, or else he wouldn't have.

[Daphne]

But then he just threw him on the side of the road. Like, again, so careless. He did not plot how to, you know, let me sink him to the bottom of the lake. He's. He just threw him out of the car. Well, it's unclear if these women knew how long of a commitment that they would be signing up for or not, but this was actually not the first time Steven had done this.

[Heath]

No, it was not. Because Jamie Bates, a former girlfriend of Steven's, met him on an online forum for BDSM enthusiasts in 2006, and they became romantic. Though their courtship eventually morphed into a friendship. And then after that, they became roommates. Now, after hearing the news, Jamie claimed that she was utterly in shock, saying, I still can't believe it's him. He was always really, really nice. He never raised his voice to me, laid a hand on me or my kids. But she did realize early on how seriously devoted Stephen was to his lifestyle in the BDSM community. Saying, I remember snooping around after I had moved in with him and seeing stuff in his basement. I saw a crate for a dog, one of the big ones, wire crates, and some weird bondage contraptions. It was really overwhelming, and it was hard to approach that kind of stuff with him. So I never really did.

[Daphne]

What a crazy thing to find when you don't necessarily know that it's connected to BDSM and you're living in this home with your children.

[Heath]

Yeah. And she just. She honestly just couldn't have the conversation with Steven. Yeah. Because what are you really gonna say?

[Daphne]

What are you gonna say there? I was snooping and I found your lair.

[Heath]

Yeah, I found your weird ass dungeon. So Jamie was already planning on moving out when she heard a horrifying and very disturbing story from Stephen. Jamie recounted towards the end, when I was going to move out, he said that he kept a girl for seven years in his apartment in this crate, this cage. He said that he would leave her there during the day when he went to work as a police officer, and then he would come home on lunch and check in on her.

[Daphne]

We really don't know what's going on in other people's houses.

[Heath]

You know, I don't think I want to know. You know, especially since Jamie lived there with her kids. So she was so disturbed that she waited for him to go to work and moved out while he was gone. Without even consulting him. She's like, he's gone at work right now. I got to get my shit and get out of here.

[Daphne]

Which. This makes it really interesting to me that she said she was shocked to hear the news because she knew how invested in BDSM and he was, so much so that she saw the cage that he kept in his basement, and

[Heath]

she was so freaked out that she had to make sure she was out of there before he got home that day.

[Daphne]

Yeah. I think then it's interesting that she's like, oh, but he was so nice, because maybe he was, but you, too, were afraid of him. So. Yeah, very, very interesting thing there.

[Heath]

Well, then after she moved out, Steven tried to call her twice in the aftermath, but she ignored him. Both times for the best.

[Daphne]

Yeah.

[Heath]

His neighbors at the time of his arrest recalled him being quiet and unassuming, but his behavior both before and after the murders indicated that the deaths hadn't been an accident. And it even seemed as if he sought out victims with backgrounds in which nobody would come looking for them. And this also seems to be why he wanted to isolate them so much under the guise that it would make them good slaves for himself. In one message that he exchanged with Laura, she even made a remark about this joking quote, if you wanted to kill me, no one would ever find me.

[Daphne]

That's disturbing, that almost she had that sense that she was really being isolated by this person. Well, after his arrest, Stephen was held on $1 million bond in prison. While awaiting trial, he was kept in isolation for his own prison protection, and he initially entered a plea of not guilty, but he eventually revised this to a guilty plea for reckless homicide and concealment of a corpse. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to Jenny's death and received 35 years in prison. That's it. At his sentencing, he offered a pretty lukewarm statement, I'll say, saying, quote, I'm very sorry that this occurred, and I'm very sorry Jenny was the victim, and I wasn't able to protect her the way I was supposed to. You know who this sounds like? The guy we talked about in our very last episode of Kenya Monge, where it's like, I just wish I could have kept her safe.

[Heath]

Yeah, you killed her. You're the one that did it.

[Daphne]

It's like you weren't trying to protect her. You were trying to isolate her for your own pleasure.

[Heath]

Yeah. Yeah. And this whole. This whole thing Is just. It sounds like it doesn't even mean anything to him at all. I'm very sorry that this occurred. What you did. It.

[Daphne]

It also sounds a lot like God. Men are. These men are all the same. It sounds like Nick Pasquale's statement from our Ally Shehorn episode.

[Heath]

Yeah.

[Daphne]

And just soulless. So I actually want to play you guys a little clip of another part of this statement so you can hear his. His sorry voice.

[Heath]

If there was anything. If I could undo that, that would be the most important thing I would do. Was not an intentional act.

[Daphne]

Holding on to the end that it wasn't an intentional act. Well, the following year, Stephen received a 25 year sentence for Laura's murder after pleading guilty to second degree murder, plus an additional 10 years for concealing their bodies to be served concurrently with his two other sentences. So this totaled 60 years of which he must serve just over 58 before he is eligible for release. But by that point, he'll be over 100 years old.

[Heath]

Yeah, I was gonna say he's never getting out of prison.

[Daphne]

Right. The judge ruled that he could be charged separately in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, leading to a much heftier sentence. Of course, as well, he did file a motion for a retrial based on this fact, but it was denied as a 648 page complaint document was compiled with the evidence against him. That's how much they have against this guy. Well, sadly for Laura's family, her daughter Kaylee died unexpectedly in 2019 at the age of just 24, making the third loss that the family suffered in just six years.

[Heath]

That's so sad. That family has been through so much.

[Daphne]

Many people, of course, including Heath and I believe that Steven has more victims just based on his conduct and the brutal manner in which he killed and disposed of Jenny and Laura.

[Heath]

Also, the fact that, you know, like. Like we said, a lot of the victims that he were. That he was choosing were people that he thought that nobody would come looking for.

[Daphne]

So it's typical for many serial killers.

[Heath]

Sure. And that's why there may be more out there that we just don't know about.

[Daphne]

Yeah. For now, no new names have been added to his list of unsuspecting victims, but it is absolutely possible. So Stephen Zellich remains incarcerated to this day in Kenosha, Wisconsin at the age of 64. Thank you so much everybody for listening to this episode of Going West.

[Heath]

Yes, thank you guys so much for listening to this episode. What a just heartbreaking story. The fact that this person who, you know, was Originally hired to protect and serve people ended up becoming this horrific monster with no regard for human life.

[Advertiser]

It's.

[Daphne]

It's such a disturbing story. Thank you so much again to Jay for putting it on our radar because I had never heard of this case.

[Heath]

Yeah, I had neither.

[Daphne]

It's weird. There's not that many photos for this case. There's not a lot of, like, evidence pictures. Of course, there are photos of Jenny and Laura, which if you're not watching on YouTube, you can go look at on our socials. Were on Instagram, @goingwest podcast. We're also on Facebook and on Tik Tok. But yeah, there's really not too much associated. I'm kind of surprised this isn't a bigger case than it is, but you would think, right? I'm also surprised that I looked. I couldn't find Steven on any of those, like, prison pen pal websites, which I feel like he totally would do.

[Heath]

Seems like the type of guy trying

[Daphne]

to explore, like, BDSM behind, you know, in his cell.

[Heath]

Yeah, yeah. Behind bars.

[Daphne]

That's what I was going to say. Like, so surprising. Unless I wouldn't be surprised, sadly, that somebody out there is writing to him and maybe he's having, you know, private conversations and letters or something. But I was very surprised not to find him on one of those sites. But anyway, thank you guys so much for tuning in to this episode.

[Heath]

Yeah. And just want to make sure to let everybody know that we are on YouTube now. So if you could go over and subscribe, we would love that. It would mean a lot to us. Also just helps out the show. So. Yeah. Appreciate you guys subscribing.

[Daphne]

Yeah, we know a lot of you guys will, like, listen at the gym or in the car while you're cooking or anything like that, but if you're just hanging out at home, throw us on the tv.

[Heath]

Absolutely. All right, guys. Well, for everybody out there in the

[Daphne]

world, don't be a stranger.

[Advertiser]

This is brought to you by Burger King. It's icy, refreshing and sure to be the sip of the summer. Burger King just released the new orange Dreamsicle Freezy King, an orange flavored frozen beverage topped with smooth orange and cream flavored cold foam and orange and cream flavored crumble. It's a twist on a classic frozen treat bursting with flavor and texture and needs to be in your hand asap. Available for a limited time at participating US Burger King restaurants.

Nowadays, you have certain expectations when you fly. Like people napping on the airport floor or flying in your pajamas. You know what? You don't expect free drinks, but now T Mobile members get a free premium drink when they fly Delta Air Lines. So just sit back, relax and switch to T Mobile today. Visit t mobile.com membership for details. It's better over here. Get a free premium Delta drink with eligible plan and link sky miles account 24 hours before qualifying flight required. Must be 21 or older. CT Life for terms the snack wrap

[Heath]

plus Caesar sauce equals extra crispy chicken

[Advertiser]

Caesary Greatness sounds delicious.

[Heath]

Caesar sauce at McDonald's for a limited time.

[Advertiser]

Courage.

I learned it from my adoptive mom.

[Adopt Us Kids Representative]

Hold my hand. You hold my hand. Learn about adopting a teen from foster [e-mail] you can't imagine the reward brought to you by Adopt Us Kids, the U.S. department of Health and Human Services and the Ad Council.