PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The jury has found William Zelenski guilty of murdering the teenager who stole some of his exotic pets in 2020.
Zelenski was convicted of first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting of Ryelee Manente-Powell on Oct. 19, 2020.
This charge carries a mandatory life prison term; however, the judge can elect to set a date for when Zelenski is first eligible for parole. That sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 22.
The conviction came after multiple clarification questions from the jury, particularly considering it had the option of a verdict on second-degree intentional homicide. For a guilty verdict on that charge, the jury would have had to find Zelenski used an unreasonable amount of force to prevent his own death or bodily harm.
During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Veronica Isherwood called on the jury to convict Zelenski of first-degree intentional homicide.
“Bill wants you to say he was allowed to use self-defense because Ryelee was yelling at him that he was going to beat his ass. And that caused him such terror that he believed he was going to die. Because, as the judge read the instructions, the only way he gets to use deadly force is if he believes he is going to die. And, there has to be an unlawful interference with Bill. So, as Ryelee is walking down the street, what unlawful interference? You know where the unlawful interference is, is on Ryelee. He’s walking down the street,” Isherwood said.
Defense attorney Tim Hogan echoed his opening statement, saying accidents happen, but crimes are committed.
“We all know Bill didn’t commit a crime that night. We know from the evidence presented in this case that Bill didn’t act with an intent to kill Ryelee. He didn’t act with an intent to hurt Ryelee. In the moment that Rylee was shot, there was a struggle over that gun, and Ryelee was pulling it away, causing Bill’s finger to hit that trigger,” Hogan said.
According to the criminal complaint, Manente-Powell and Ashton Tody stole multiple animals, including a crocodile, bearded lizard, snakes and other items. Tody was convicted and placed on probation for three years.
Manente-Powell’s mother, Tiffany Powell, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the sequence of events leading up to the murder, including pointing a gun at her son while he and Zelenski faced off in a Waupaca street.
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