Zachariah Anderson guilty, Rosalio Gutierrez homicide
KENOSHA, Wis. - A Kenosha County jury delivered its verdict Wednesday, March 22 in the trial of Zachariah Anderson – convicting him of first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a corpse and stalking.
Anderson was accused of killing his ex-girlfriend's love interest, Rosalio Gutierrez, and hiding his body in 2020. His trial lasted nearly a month.
"Having the support of friends, family, people that I don’t know – helped give us the strength," said Sadie Beacham, the ex-girlfriend.
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In February 2020, Beacham broke off her long-term with Anderson and started messaging Gutierrez online. Little did Gutierrez know their lives would be at the center of a homicide case more than three years later.
Anderson showed no emotion as the verdict was read. The jury of seven women and five men deliberated for 10 hours.
"This really is a testament to good winning out over evil, and the jury being able to look past the fact that we still – to this day – don't know where (Gutierrez) is," said Kenosha County Assistant District Attorney Jessica Krejcarek.
For the last several days, family and friends of Gutierrez wore Chicago Cubs gear, his favorite team, and filled the gallery. They now hope that someone comes forward with information, or his remains are found.
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"I’m eternally grateful. My husband, family and I – Rosalio – finally has justice," said Selia Patterson, Gutierrez's mother.
Anderson's family, who attended much of the trial, was not in court for the verdict. His attorneys have not commented at this time.
Rosalio Gutierrez
Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced on May 16 – nearly three years to the day Gutierrez was last seen or heard from.
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.
READ MORE: Complete FOX6 coverage of the Zachariah Anderson trial
"What are the chances that in this exact square foot on the planet Earth, a man who is innocently and falsely accused, would have the blood of a man who died on May 17? How could that happen?" said Kenosha County District Attorney Graveley during closing arguments.
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.