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Police advance homicide case

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Also by Cara Harshman:

Police advance homicide case (April 8, 2008)
Leaders assure city of safety (April 7, 2008)
Billboard ruling on back burner (April 4, 2008)
Police focus on transients for homicide clues (April 4, 2008)

by Cara Harshman

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

The Madison Police Department has made numerous arrests of individuals with possible connections to the homicide of 21-year-old University of Wisconsin junior Brittany Zimmermann, police announced Monday.

Among those arrested on probation holds or offenses unrelated to Zimmerman’s murder is the man who was seen going door-to-door in the Bassett neighborhood — and entering a house on West Washington Avenue — asking for $40 to fix a flat tire.

According to City Council President Mike Verveer, District 4, police have a photo and the name of the man who entered the house on West Washington Avenue but are not releasing any information.

Joel DeSpain, MPD public information officer, said police do not have any suspects in Zimmermann’s case, but they are following many leads.

“It’s possible some of those we’ve been talking with could at some point become suspects (in the Zimmermann case), but we don’t know that yet,” DeSpain said. “It’s also possible the suspect or suspects are still on the street. At this point we do not have a suspect or suspects in the case.”

Police are seeking information from anyone who might have seen anything suspicious around West Doty Street last week to help find the person or persons who brutally murdered Zimmermann in her home on 517 W. Doty St. Wednesday.

DeSpain said he is unsure when crime scene evidence, currently being expedited through the Wisconsin State Crime Lab, will be released. When police receive the data, he said, they will compare it to evidence from prior cases.

“As soon as we have information on [the evidence] and determine if it matches up with anything, it could be a major break in the case,” DeSpain said.

Verveer said he has no plans to hold additional neighborhood meetings at this point, but if the case goes unsolved over the next few weeks, he would anticipate holding more meetings like the one last Saturday at which police, city and UW officials addressed safety concerns in the city.

“I am optimistic that these leads will hopefully lead to the case being solved in the coming days,” Verveer said.

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Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 11:26am):

I have a solution: castrate all the men. Men are vile disgusting pigs who cause all the wars in the world, they rape women and kids. How many women go around raping kids? How many women go around murdering innocent people?

Get rid of the men and all your problems are solved.

Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 12:01pm):

The word I've received is that while Ms. Zimmerman was crazy smart and put-together, her brother was involved in all kinds of shady dealings. Apparently some folks not so happy with him had recently put threats out on him and his family, specifically his sister... While I'm definitely concerned about downtown safety, if this is true (and my source is strong), then why haven't these people been brought in and charged? there can't be that many thugs in the greater Marshfield area. The transients could hold valuable information, true, but why so much fear-mongering, if they're not the suspects?

Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 2:07pm):

12:01, you and your source need to talk to the authorities.

Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 2:31pm):

"I have a solution: castrate all the men. Men are vile disgusting pigs who cause all the wars in the world, they rape women and kids. How many women go around raping kids? How many women go around murdering innocent people?"

How many men go around drowning their children in bathtubs, running their cars into lakes with their children locked inside?

Not all horrible acts are caused by men.

Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 2:43pm):

Apparently in Madison you can get away with murder because NONE OF THESE CASES ARE SOLVED.

wtf?

Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 3:54pm):

Anyone else got rumors and heresay from strong sources they want to throw out there? After all, posting third-hand information on newspaper comment pages always seems to solve crimes and bring about justice. If you know something, call the police, don't spread single-source information and stir the pot of accusations.

Anonymous (April 8, 2008 @ 4:30pm):

12:01

FINALLY someone who's not talking out of their ass. The serial killer and bum paranoia was totally unfounded from the start, but the police obviously had no idea what to do, so they start arresting bums. I would've hoped MPD had thoroughly investigated the family and boyfriend, and their friends, because this type of murder is almost NEVER random, and the lack of evidence and witnesses indicates it was premeditated, not some random bum.

I read in some comments on the story in TCT about the brother being a gang banger, but I couldn't confirm it. It'd be nice if our local "reporters" would do a little digging and ask MPD some pointed questions.

Anonymous (April 9, 2008 @ 12:28am):

did any of you ever consider that maybe the "reporters" didn't consider it because it is a lame, unfounded rumor being spread online that doesn't have any factual basis?

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