Lizard, Liquor And A Shotgun To The Chest, Step Dad Kills And Then Acts Surprised

Watch this police interrogation with intense raw interrogation from the interrogation room as police conduct a full interrogation of a suspect. This raw interrogation footage captures every moment of the suspect interview, complete with deception detection techniques, and criminal psychology in true JCS style interrogation. 1. The Background: Key people involved, their relationships, and the motive Defendants: William C. “Bill” Zelenski (age ~44–47 during proceedings); exotic animal dealer who operated “Wild Bill’s Exotics” in the Waupaca, Wisconsin area; former sheriff’s deputy; married to another woman (Portage County Clerk of Courts April Zelenski) while in a romantic relationship with co-defendant Tiffany Powell. Tiffany R. Powell (age ~34–37); mother of the victim; girlfriend of Zelenski at the time; previously convicted felon. Victim: Ryelee Manente-Powell (also referred to as Ryelee Manente or Manete-Powell), age 18; son of Tiffany Powell; father of a young child. Relationships: Zelenski was dating Powell. Ryelee was Powell’s son and was acquainted with Zelenski. A friend of Ryelee’s (Ashton Tody, then 17) was also accused in the underlying theft. Motive: Dispute over a burglary/theft from Zelenski’s home in the Town of Dayton the previous week. Items reported stolen included two handguns, alcohol, and exotic reptiles valued at roughly $27,000 total (including a Mexican beaded lizard ~$17,000, baby Burmese python ~$7,000, Nile crocodile ~$2,000, red-tail boa ~$575, and possibly venomous snakes). Zelenski believed Ryelee and Tody were responsible. Earlier that day Powell had argued with her son and told him he was “dead to me.” No long-standing personal feud beyond the theft was established. 2. The Crime: Specific details of the event, including date, location, and any calculated planning or tampering Date: October 19, 2020 (evening, ~10:25 p.m.). Location: Public street intersection (Van Street / Shearer Street area) in Waupaca, Wisconsin. Sequence (per criminal complaint, 911 calls, and doorbell-camera video): Zelenski made multiple 911 calls earlier that day reporting the prior burglary and naming suspects. That evening, Zelenski and Powell drove around looking for the stolen items/animals (and/or the suspects). They spotted Ryelee walking on the sidewalk, pulled over, and confronted him. Ryelee removed his shirt and challenged Zelenski to a fight. Zelenski retrieved a double-barreled 12-gauge shotgun (loaded with slugs) from the vehicle, handed it to Powell, and directed her to point it at her son. Powell did so, then handed the gun back to Zelenski. Ryelee yelled for Zelenski to put the gun down and fight like a man. The two circled in fighting stances; Zelenski then shot Ryelee once in the chest (contact or near-contact wound per autopsy). Neither Zelenski nor Powell rendered aid; a nearby witness screamed for them to help. Zelenski called 911 claiming self-defense (that Ryelee attacked him). Ryelee was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Planning/tampering: Zelenski and Powell were armed and equipped when they went looking for the suspects (vehicle contained the shotgun, another long gun, 112 rounds of ammunition, knives, handcuffs, hammer, baseball bat, and pickaxe). Doorbell video captured the confrontation and gun-handing. No extensive post-act cover-up beyond the initial self-defense claim. 3. The Investigation: Suspect behavior, key evidence found (digital or physical), and inconsistencies in stories Suspect behavior: Zelenski called 911 immediately after the shooting and admitted shooting Ryelee while claiming self-defense. He and Powell remained at/near the scene but did not help the victim. Zelenski was arrested at the scene; Powell was arrested shortly afterward. Both later testified at Zelenski’s trial. Key evidence: Doorbell/security camera video showing Zelenski handing the shotgun to Powell, her pointing it at Ryelee, her returning it, and the subsequent confrontation. Multiple 911 recordings (burglary reports + post-shooting call). Autopsy: single shotgun wound to the chest (medical examiner testified it appeared to be a contact or near-contact wound, inconsistent with a struggle). Vehicle search: shotgun used in the shooting plus extensive weapons/tools. Witness statements (including a neighbor who saw the aftermath and noted no aid was given). Statements from both defendants. Inconsistencies/stories: Zelenski claimed pure self-defense (Ryelee attacked him). Video and witness accounts showed Ryelee was unarmed, the confrontation was initiated by Zelenski/Powell stopping him, and Zelenski armed himself and involved Powell before any physical fight. Powell’s initial statements aligned somewhat with Zelenski but the video contradicted aspects (gun-handing). Expert testimony rejected the “struggle” narrative. Ashton Tody (co-accused in the theft) was separately convicted of party-to-theft and received probation.