The Zipperer's driveway
CALUMET COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT (CASO)
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NOVEMBER 2005 - THE MONTH TERESA HALBACH WAS REPORTED MISSING
CASO PAGE 3 - LEMIEUX'S REPORT
At approximately 1700 hours on 11/03/05, I (Cpl. LESLIE LEMIEUX of the CALUMET CO. SHERIFF'S DEPT.) began the initial investigation of a possible missing person.
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I had left a phone message with the phone number from the GEORGE ZIPPERER appointment requesting that he contact me. I did call the ZIPPERER residence again and spoke with a male subject who identified himself as GEORGE ZIPPERER. I explained the reason for my call, and ZIPPERER immediately raised his voice saying that the AUTO TRADER had trespassed on his property and he did not want any more calls from them. ZIPPERER said he was going to contact an attomey if these calls continued.
I asked GEORGE if he had made an appointment for a photo shoot to sell a vehicle with AUTO TRADER. GEORGE said no he did not. GEORGE said that would have been his son. I asked GEORGE if it would be possible to speak with his son. GEORGE said he didn't know where he was. I asked GEORGE if his son lived there and he said yes.
GEORGE said he works 24 hours a day and maybe talks to his son once a month. GEORGE said his son didn't have a cell phone and he did not know how to contact him. GEORGE said he thought his son was headed to Alaska to look for a job. GEORGE said he was going to head to Alaska next month to do the same. GEORGE said his son works all the time too.
GEORGE said the AUTO TRADER had been calling them and he did not request their services. GEORGE said he thought that they must be con artists. I asked GEORGE if he knew whether or not the photographer had shown up on Monday and was indeed on his property. GEORGE said he wasn't sure but he assumes so because he saw an AUTO TRADER magazine on the kitchen table.
GEORGE was unwilling to give me his personal information or his son's. I asked GEORGE how to spell his last name and he spelled ZIZORE. I asked GEORGE for his date of birth and he said he forgot it. GEORGE then said that I had caught him on a bad day.
GEORGE said that I had now upset his dog, which I could hear barking in the background. GEORGE told me that it was a mean dog and anybody who came on his property better watch out cause it could eat them starting with the feet.
GEORGE said he worked hard and did not have time for this. GEORGE said someone was driving up his driveway now and he had to go. I asked GEORGE to contact me if he had any further information.
CASO PAGE 8 - WIEGERT'S REPORT
On 11/03/05 at approximately 1730 hours, I (Inv. MARK WIEGERT of the CALUMET COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT) received a phone call from Cpl. LEMIEUX of the CALUMET COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT. Cpl. LEMIEUX was requesting my assistance in locating a missing person by the name of TERESA HALBACH.
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I contacted the MANITOWOC COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT and spoke with Sgt. ANDREW COLBORN. I informed Sgt. COLBORN we were investigating a missing person's complaint. I also informed Sgt. COLBORN that we had two residences we would like to have checked, one being the STEVEN AVERY property and the second one being the GEORGE ZIPPERER property. Sgt. COLBORN indicated to me he would go over and attempt contact with Mr. AVERY. I also received a phone call from Manitowoc County Lt. JIM LENK. I informed him of the situation. Lt. LENK informed me he would call some people in and assist us in the investigation. At that time, I did contact lnv. DEDERING who went to MANITOWOC COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT and then eventually met with GEORGE ZIPPERER.
For more information on that, please see Inv. DEDERING's report.
CASO PAGE 13 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Thursday, 11/03/05 at approximately 1900 hrs., I (DEDERING) did arrive at MANITOWOC CO. SHERIFF's DEPT. There I met with Det. DENNIS JACOBS, Lt. JAMES LENK, Det. DAVID REMIKER, and Sgt. ANDREW COLBORN regarding this matter
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I did request information on GEORGE ZIPPERER, who lives at 4433 CTH B, Manitowoc and is one of the other last outgoing phone numbers called by TERESA HALBACH. I learned that Mr. ZIPPERER's only real arrest incident of note was a domestic violence situation in 2002.
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At 2115 hrs., while at the MANITOWOC CO. SHERIFF's DEPT., I received a telephone call from Inv. WIEGERT indicating that he had spoken with a representative from AUTO TRADER and that the AUTO TRADER had spoken with GEORGE ZIPPERER and it was determined further that TERESA HALBACH had been at the ZIPPERER residence.
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ANGELA did tell me there were two appointments set up for TERESA on 11/03/05 and TERESA did not show up for either of those appointments. ANGELA also informed me she had spoken with GEORGE ZIPPERER, one of TERESA's appointments for Monday, and GEORGE had confirmed to her TERESA, in fact, had shown up and taken the picture, which she was supposed to do. I informed ANGELA I would like to get a copy of TERESA's last fax to her and any other information she could provide me about TERESA's appointments in that timeframe.
The image above is the lead sheet for the Zipperer appointment. Neither George nor Jason contacted Auto Trader about running an ad. Telemarketers called them when they scanned a local newspaper and found an ad Jason had placed to sell his Firebird. The telemarketing company in Florida that was contracted by Auto Trader to generate leads initiated contact with the Zipperer family, and the lead was passed onto the Auto Trader office in Hales Corners, WI (source code TMK for "telemarketing" lead). When Dawn Pliska of Auto Trader processed the two leads, the phone-in appointment for Craig Sippel/Steven Schmitz and the telemarketing lead for George Zipperer, she created two new accounts: Sippel #48484 and Zipper (sic) #48485. The cold call to the Zipperer home by the female telemarketer and the phone-in photo shoot request by Craig Sippel must have occurred on Friday, October 28th because the Sippel/Schmitz appointment was on a lead sheet faxed to Teresa at 7 a.m. on October 29th. The Zipperer lead was on Teresa's October 31st appointment sheet because she covered Manitowoc County only on Mondays.
CASO PAGE 17 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Thursday, 11/03/05 at approximately 2140 hrs., Det. REMIKER, Sgt. COLBORN and myself (Inv. DEDERING) did attempt to make contact at the residence of GEORGE ZIPPERER located at 4433 CTH B, Manitowoc, WI. We initially received no response to our repeated knocks at the door.
MANITOWOC CO. DISPATCH was advised to place calls to the phone number for the ZIPPERERS and they indicated that they reached an answering machine. I also attempted to contact the ZIPPERER residence via cellular ohone and obtained the same results.
The door was ultimately answered by the following individual:
GEORGE B. ZIPPERER
GEORGE was extremely belligerent initially, and it was my impression that he was apparently intoxicated.
GEORGE indicated to me that the person from the AUTO TRADER had been at his residence, and that he wanted her arrested. He indicated that she had no permission to be on his property, and therefore, she was trespassing.
GEORGE continued in a boisterous manner even after I advised him that TERESA HALBACH had been reported as a missing person, and that his telephone number was one of the last numbers she had placed outgoing telephone calls to from her cellular phone.
I also spoke with GEORGE's son, JASON W. ZIPPERER, same address and phone. He indicated that he had advertised a '77 Pontiac Firebird for sale, but to his knowledge, he had not made any contact with the AUTO TRADER to have it advertised.
JASON ZIPPERER indicated that he attends LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, Manitowoc, WI, and that he was there the entire day on Monday, 10/31. He further indicates that he attends LTC in Cleveland on Tuesdays.
During this time, he did walk me out to the '77 Firebird that he had for sale. He indicated that this vehicle was located south of the ZIPPERER residence and it was somewhat concealed by trees. JASON indicated the vehicle could be seen from the road, and when I looked backwards towards the road, I determined that this, in fact, was the case.
I asked JASON and GEORGE whether either of them had made contact with the AUTO TRADER to schedule a photography shoot of the vehicle. JASON indicated he did not and GEORGE further denied calling the AUTO TRADER magazine.
I did address statements made apparently by GEORGE to Cpl. LEMIEUX (see LEMIEUX's detailed report for information conceming this). GEORGE indicated that he had, in fact, told Cpl. LEMIEUX that his son, JASON, was on his way to Alaska to find work. ZIPPERER indicated that he does this to "have a little fun" when people who he does not know call his phone.
At 2153 hrs., I was allowed into the ZIPPERER residence. I did review voice mail messages left on the answering machine and Caller IDs. I did locate a Caller ID entry on 10/31/05 at 2:12 p.m. from phone number 920-731-4731. I recognized this as being the cellular phone number of TERESA HALBACH. I did review the voice mail messages and did locate a voice mail message from TERESA HALBACH indicating that she was calling on Monday about 2:15 p.m. She stated she was in the neighborhood, and that she was trying to photograph a 1977 Pontiac Firebird. She stated that she was having problems finding the residence and hoped to do so in the next few minutes.
I had been allowed access to the residence by both JO ELLEN ZIPPERER and GEORGE ZIPPERER. It should be noted that this voice mail message or answering machine message was subsequently copied by Det. JACOBS on Sunday, 11/06/05.
In speaking with JO ELLEN ZIPPERER, DOB 07/15/46, she stated she was in the backyard and apparently missed the telephone call that Ms. HALBACH placed. She stated sometime in the afternoon, a young lady did come to the residence and advised that she was from the AUTO TRADER and was there to photograph a vehicle. She indicated she gave the young lady directions to where the car described as a 1977 Firebird had been located, and the girl had come back between five and ten minutes later indicating that she had gotten her pictures. JO ELLEN ZIPPERER advised the girl was happy and smiling. Ms. ZIPPERER indicated that she did not see what vehicle, if any, the young lady had arrived in, nor could she tell me whether the young lady had arrived by herself or with someone else. JO ELLEN indicate she could not determine which direction the young lady traveled on CTH B when she left as she had never actually seen the vehicle the young lady arrived in.
JO ELLEN and GEORGE did provide me with a copy of an AUTO TRADER magazine, which had been left by the photographer, along with some pricing information and a yellow sign indicating "For Sale as Advertised in AUTO TRADER." I thanked the ZIPPERERS for their information and left the residence. These items were subsequently placed into evidence.
On the right in the image above is the package of materials that Teresa Halbach left with JoEllen Zipperer on October 31, 2005 (the magazine on the left in the image above allegedly was the AutoTrader magazine that Teresa gave Steven Avery on the same day).
CASO PAGE 30 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Friday, 11/04/05 at 0935 hrs., I did make contact with LINCOLN HIGH SCHOOL, Manitowoc, WI , regarding JASON ZIPPERER's attendance on 10/31/05. I was transferred to School Resource Officer BRUCE JACOBS and was transferred to a voice mailbox. I left a message for Mr. JACOBS indicating my question about Mr. ZIPPERER's attendance. I subsequently received a call from Officer JACOBS indicating JASON ZIPPERER had, in fact, been at school all day, both morning and afternoon on 10/31/05.
CASO PAGE 99 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Saturday, 11/05/05 at 2004 hrs., Det. JACOBS and I (DEDERING) did make contact with JASON ZIPPERER, previously mentioned in this report at his residence of 4433 CTH B, Manitowoc, WI. Prior to asking Mr. ZIPPERER any questions, I did advise him that he was free to leave and asked him to check the door to insure he realized that the door was unlocked. I advised him that he did not have to speak with me if he chose not to could chose to terminate the interview at anytime he wished. He indicated he understood this and wished to speak with me.
I asked JASON if he or anyone in his family knows the AVERYS. He stated he does not personally know the AVERYS and further does not know where the salvage operation is located. He stated that his father does not know the AVERY family, and that the ZIPPERER family does not do business with the AVERY family.
CASO PAGE 105 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Sunday, 11/06/05 at 0821 hrs., I (DEDERING) assisted by Det. JACOBS did make contact with GEORGE ZIPPERER, previously mentioned in this report at his residence, 4433 CTH B, Manitowoc, WI. prior to asking ZIPPERER any questions, I advised him he was free to go, was not under arrest and could terminate the conversation at anytime he so chose. He indicated he understood this. He stated he would agree to answer questions.
I asked GEORGE ZIPPERER if he had ever done business with the AVERY'S AUTO SALVAGE operation. His response was "Hell no, I don't even know them." I asked him if he had ever been at the AVERY business and he responded, "No." I asked him if he was in any way related or close friends with the AVERYS and his response was "No."
GEORGE ZIPPERER indicated that on Monday, 10/31/05, he was at BELABAN REAL ESTATE OFFICES near the intersection of 1lth and Marshall in the City of Manitowoc. He stated that he was on the job site from 8:00 a.m. approximately until 5:00 p.m. He stated that he never left the job site and has witnesses that can verify this.
GEORGE indicated that a female photographer had called the residence previously and was told by GEORGE not to come onto the property. GEORGE did not recall when this conversation had taken place.
I did take the following written statement from GEORGE ZIPPERER:
"On Monday, 10/31/05, I was on a job on Marshall Street between 10th and 11th in Manitowoc. I got there at 8: am. I didn't leave the site during the day, and I left the job about 5 pm. Mark Belaban was there, along with at least one employee, Rick Strosner (ph). There was also a painter there. The building is on the S/W corner of 11th and Marshall.
"I've never done business with the Avery family. I've never been to the Avery junk yard. I am not friends with any of the Avery family.
"I have dictated this statement to Investigator Dedering. I have read this statement and have initialed all the corrections. This statement is true and accurate."
This statement was signed in my presence by GEORGE ZIPPERER at 1045 hrs. on 11/06/05. My contact with GEORGE ZIPPERER ended at 0852 hrs.
CASO PAGE 107 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Sunday, 11/06/05 at 0910 hrs., I (DEDERING) did interview JO ELLEN ZIPPERER, previously mentioned in this report, at her residence at 4433 CTH B, Manitowoc, WI.
JO ELLEN indicated that on Monday, 10/31/05, she had had no personal phone contact with the lady who apparently took pictures of a vehicle, but stated the caller did leave a message indicating that she could not find the residence. It should be noted that at 0930 hrs., Det. JACOBS did receive permission from the ZIPPERERs to copy this message onto his cell phone and apparently this was later placed onto a CD.
JO ELLEN went on to indicate that she believed the photographer arrived at approximately 1430 hrs. and indicated this was before JASON, her son, got home from school. She stated that she didn't see or hear the vehicle enter the driveway. JO ELLEN ZIPPERER indicated that she gave the photographer directions as to how to get to the Firebird she needed to photo. JO ELLEN indicated the photographer was dressed in blue jeans with a darker jacket (waist length) and some sort of white top. She stated she had brownish hair but JO ELLEN was not sure about the length. JO ELLEN indicated that the photographer returned several minutes later smiling, indicating that she stated she had found the car.
JO ELLEN indicated that the photographer left a copy of the AUTO TRADER and some sort of contract on an outdoor table. JO ELLEN did not move these items until she provided them to us on 11/03/05. JO ELLEN indicated that the photographer had not collected any money and JO ELLEN indicated that the family was not sure if they wanted the photograph run or not.
JO ELLEN indicated that she was out at the back of the residence and did not see the vehicle leave either so she could not determine which direction the vehicle took after leaving the residence.
I did transcribe the following written statement obtained from JO ELLEN ZIPPERER:
"On Monday 10/31/05 between 2:00 and 2:30 pm, I was out in the backyard. All at once, a lady appeared. She was shorter and petite. She was wearing darker waist length jacket and she had brown hair. She asked if she could take photos of a Firebird that Jason owns. She said she had talked to George and that it was OK. I
"I have dictated this statement to investigator Dedering. I have read the statement and have initialled all corrections. The statement is true and correct."
This statement was signed in my presence by JO ELLEN ZIPPERER at 9:31a.m. on 11/06/05. I did terminate my contact with Ms. ZIPPERER at 0936 hrs.
CASO PAGE 111 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Sunday, 11/06/05 at 0942 hrs., I (DEDERING) assisted by Manitowoc Co. Det. JACOBS did make contact with the following individual:
SHIRLEY R. VANDERLOOP
Ms. VANDERLOOP's residence is located immediately north of the ZIPPERER residence, and would afford a good view of any vehicles pulling into the driveway of the ZIPPERER residence. Ms. VANDERLOOP advised me that she was at home during the afternoon hours of 10/31/05, however, had not noticed any vehicles, whatsoever.
JANUARY 2006 - TWO AND A HALF MONTHS AFTER TERESA HALBACH WAS REPORTED MISSING
CASO PAGE 351 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Thursday, 01/19/06, at 7220 hours, Inv. BALDWIN and I (DEDERING) did attempt to contact GEORGE ZIPPERER, previously mentioned in this report. The individual I spoke with indicated she did not know where GEORGE was and was unable to contact him, as he had no cell phone. She indicated no one ever knows where GEORGE works. She indicated GEORGE does not have a cellular telephone nor does JASON have a cellular telephone.
CASO PAGE 352 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Friday, 01/20/06, at 8:44 a.m., I (DEDERING) did place a telephone call to GEORGE ZIPPERER, previously mentioned in this report, in response to a call he had placed to the sheriff s department. GEORGE indicated there are no cell phones in the house with the exception of his daughter's cell phone.
GEORGE stated he did call AUTO TRADER on one occasion after HALBACH went missing. He stated he spoke to someone about HALBACH coming onto his yard without permission and that she was trespassing.
GEORGE denied making any sort of phone call in which he purported himself to be STEVEN AVERY.
GEORGE stated he believes some AUTO TRADER representative called asking when he was going to "pay the bill." He then indicated it was a possibility he had called the AUTO TRADER regarding this matter.
GEORGE once again denied making any sort of phone calls to AUTO TRADER purporting himself to be STEVEN AVERY. I asked GEORGE if it was possible that JASON had contacted AUTO TRADER and he stated he was unsure about this.
JANUARY 2007 - ALMOST 15 MONTHS AFTER TERESA HALBACH WAS REPORTED MISSING
CASO PAGE 1036 - STEIER'S REPORT
On Thursday, 01/17/07, at approximately 9:40 a.m., I (Inv. GARY STEIER of the CALUMET COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT) spoke with Sgt. ANDREW COLBURN of the MANITOWOC COLINTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT.
Inv. STEIER spoke with Sgt. COLBURN reference his work schedule from 10/30/05 through 11/05/05. Inv. STEIER had previously been informed by Inv. MARK WIEGERT that Inv. STEIER should speak with investigators from the MANITOWOC COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT to obtain their work schedule because the defense for STEVEN AVERY may question the officers and their whereabouts.
Sgt. COLBURN indicated that on Sunday, 10/30/05, he worked his shift of 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sgt. COLBURN indicates he can recall where he was because his routine is fairly rigid. On Sundays, Sgt. COLBURN indicates at 10:30 a.m., he would have left his house and went to his mother-in-law's house to check on her. Sgt. COLBURN indicates every Sunday, prior to the start of his shift, he goes over to his mother-in-law's to make sure she is okay. Sgt. COLBURN says he would leave her house about 7:45 a.m. to go to work.
On Monday, 10/31/05, Sgt. COLBURN indicated he had worked a nine and one-half hour workday and was done around 2118 hours. Sgt. COLBURN indicated he would generally go home after his shift is over and watch TV, fall asleep on the couch and then go to bed.
On Tuesday, 11/01/05, Sgt. COLBURN indicated he had worked eight hours. Sgt. COLBURN indicated generally he would have returned home or he would have watched TV and then have gone to bed.
On Wednesday, 11/02/05, Sgt. COLBURN indicated he had worked an eight hour shift concluding his shift at 2000 hours.
On Thursday, 11/03/05, Sgt. COLBURN indicated he had started at 11:45 a.m. where he had worked his eight hour shift, plus three hours of overtime, assisting Calumet County Inv. JOHN DEDERING in speaking to the ZIPPERERS about TERESA HALBACH. Sgt. COLBURN also remembers he was called to go check the AVERY residence. Sgt. COLBURN indicated he had concluded his shift around 2250 hours.
On Friday, 11/04/05, Sgt. COLBURN indicated he was off. He could not recall what he had done on his off day.
FEBRUARY 2007 - JUST PRIOR TO THE START OF STEVEN AVERY'S TRIAL AND 15 MONTHS AFTER TERESA HALBACH'S DISAPPEARANCE
CASO PAGE 1080 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Friday, 02/09/07, at 1135 hours, I (DEDERING) did make telephone contact with the following individual concerning this matter:
MARK D. BELABAN
BELABAN is the owner of BELABAN REAL ESTATE CONSULTANTS, 1111 Marshall Street, Manitowoc, WI. The purpose of my telephone call was to determine whether BELABAN had any independent knowledge of whether GEORGE ZIPPERER had been on site of a roof construction project at the Marshall Street address on 10/31/05.
BELABAN indicated he had no independent recollection of GEORGE ZIPPERER being on site on that date.
BELABAN went on to indicate that if the weather was good, GEORGE would have been on site from 0730-0800 hours until the late afternoon hours.
BELABAN went on to indicate I could possibly contact an ALLEN THIELEN for additional information concerning this matter, as THIELEN was doing some paint contracting at the Marshall Street address during the same period of time.
CASO PAGE 1085 - DEDERING'S REPORT
On Friday, 02/09/07, at 1330 hours, I (DEDERING) made telephone contact with the following individual concerning this matter:
ALLEN M. THIELEN
THIELEN indicated to me GEORGE ZIPPERER was doing roofing reconstruction at the BELABAN building, 1111 Marshall Street, Manitowoc, WI, on 10/31/05. While THIELEN stated he could not recall specific details of 10/31/05, he did state GEORGE would have been there all the time during the time the roof work was being done. THIELEN had nothing else to offer concerning this investigation.
MANITOWOC COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT (MTSO)
