Mequon rejects Zachariah Anderson's claim for $10M in damages
MEQUON, Wis. - The Mequon Common Council unanimously voted Tuesday to disallow a $10 million claim from Zachariah Anderson, the man convicted of killing Rosalio Gutierez and hiding his body in 2020.
Anderson sought damages for what he said was his wrongful arrest at the hands of Mequon police. He claimed he was arrested without probable cause due to false information on a search warrant from Kenosha police.
Mequon's city attorney said Kenosha would bear responsibility because they requested the Mequon Police Department's help to arrest Anderson.
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A Kenosha County jury convicted Anderson in March 2023 of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and stalking. He was sentenced to life in prison that May, and will be eligible for supervised release after serving 40 years of that life sentence.
Anderson was accused of killing Gutierrez, his ex-girlfriend's love interest, and hiding his body in 2020.
Zachariah Anderson sentenced, life in prison for Kenosha homicide
Zachariah Anderson, convicted in the 2020 killing of Rosalio Gutierrez, was sentenced to life in prison Tuesday, May 16.
Prosecutors said there was no other way to explain the evidence and focused on DNA evidence, pictures, folders, phone records showing Anderson was tracking and even going to Gutierrez's apartment before he disappeared – and denials to law enforcement when police came knocking days later.
The state also highlighted missing carpet, remains of a bleach bottle and burned clothing; tens of thousands of dollars in recently withdrawn cash for a supposed escape fund; and no activity on Anderson's phone when police believe Gutierrez was killed.
Anderson's defense argued the facts did not support the state's explanation, and said investigators put on blinders – ignoring other possibilities for Gutierrez's disappearance.