by A The Wisconsin father is currently on trial for the brutal murder of his ex-partner’s new lover, whom he allegedly stalked and beat to death with an object before disposing of his remains.
Zachariah Anderson, 42, is accused of killing Rosalio Gutierrez Jr., 40, at his Wood Creek home in May 2020.
Gutierrez, 40, was dating Mr Anderson’s former girlfriend Sadie Beacham – with whom the accused killer has three children.
Prosecutors allege that Mr. Anderson was jealous of the new relationship and pursued his love rival.
Meanwhile, Mr Anderson’s defense alleges the state has not investigated other potential suspects.
The 42-year-old is now on trial in Kenosha County Circuit Court on charges of first-degree first-degree murder, hiding a body and stalking. He faces life imprisonment.
Here’s what we know about the case:
Disappear
Guttierez was last seen or heard from on May 17, 2020.
Two days later, a concerned Ms. Beacham visited his home to check on him after being unable to reach him.
When she arrived at his apartment, she discovered the open patio door and blood on the floor, furniture and ceiling of the house.
A carpet was also missing from the property, she told investigators.
Rosalio Gutierrez has not been seen for almost three years
(handout)
Ms Beacham contacted police, who conducted a social check at the Gutierrez home.
Inside, investigators found large amounts of blood and signs of a struggle, according to a criminal complaint.
The victim’s body was never found, but investigators believe he is dead based on the sheer amount of blood found in his home.
murder
On the evening of May 17, 2020, prosecutors allege that Mr. Anderson went to Gutierrez’s apartment and brutally killed him with blunt force because he was jealous of his relationship with his former partner.
He then allegedly disposed of Gutierrez’s body.
The morning after Gutierrez was last seen alive, he was seen on surveillance footage at a local WalMart buying garbage bags, latex gloves and bleach wipes.
He also bought cans of sardines.
Investigators grew closer to Mr Anderson when Ms Beacham revealed she believed her ex was tracking her movements.
On the days that Guttierez’s death was discovered, officers found smoldering cremation pits at both Mr. Anderson’s home and farm, with the remains of a bleach bottle and the suspected killer’s clothing among the ashes.
Prosecutors said Guttierez’s DNA was then found in Mr Anderson’s work van and there was evidence the interior had been scrubbed with bleach.
Zachariah Anderson is pictured in a mugshot
(Kenosha County Jail)
Parts of the vehicle’s interior carpet had also been removed.
Curiously, two open and uneaten cans of sardines were also discovered under the passenger seat, the criminal complaint said.
arrest
On May 21, 2020, Mr. Anderson was arrested and charged with two counts of stalking.
In December of the same year he was also charged with manslaughter and hiding a body.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
jealousy and stalking
During his high-profile trial, jurors heard Mr Anderson was jealous of his former partner’s new relationship and was spying on the couple.
On March 15, Mr Anderson’s 15-year-old daughter took the stand to testify that her father had asked her to spy on her mother and record it “every time my mother got upset”.
She testified that he “frequently” brought up Guttierez when she saw him.
Then, shortly before Guttierez’s disappearance, Mr Anderson allegedly also took his daughter to spy on the couple.
On the night of April 24 – less than a month before the murder – she said her father drove them both to her mother’s house to watch Ms Beacham and Gutierrez through the window.
Anderson also went through Gutierrez’s truck and took photos of the vehicle’s license plate and registration, she said.
The accused killer appears to be signaling his daughter to stop talking while she testifies against him
He then rang the doorbell of the house and fled, she said.
The teenager also testified that her father told her about his plans to follow his love rival – who he called a racist swear word.
“He said something about showing him who the man was and I didn’t quite get it, but you kind of caught things my dad was referring to or implying,” she said.
“My dad said to me, he said, ‘I can just watch him or follow him to his house one time, just for fun.’ Those were exactly his words to me.”
Chaos in the courtroom
A dramatic moment occurred in the courtroom on March 15 when Mr Anderson appeared to send a signal warning his teenage daughter to stop talking while she testified against him.
Mr. Anderson was seen putting his hand to his mouth and closing his lips as he stared at his 15-year-old daughter on the witness stand in Kenosha District Court.
Prosecutors accused the defendant of signaling his daughter when she was testifying.
Meanwhile, the defense also accused Ms Beacham of using sign language to communicate with her daughter on the witness stand.
