SEPTEMBER 6, 2019, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A7
after he murdered his wife. He members long after the state
appeared to be in a heightened had rested their case and the
emotional state. His recitation defense started theirs.
The defense began their
continued from Page A1 of events is erratic and
interspersed with details of case on the morning of Aug.
assisted with the investigation the previous few weeks; Lisa’s 26, after the medical examiner
and was involved with affair, her private emails and wrapped up his testimony.
text messages that he had read There was a heightened sense
Payton’s interview.
Bravo began sobbing as she without her permission, their of agitation in the courtroom
told the jury how Payton kept ongoing confrontations, his because Zielinski was set to
asking over and over again, conversations with a priest, a testify in his defense in the
“Why did she have to die? lay minister, a divorce attorney coming days.
Zielinski’s brother Dean
Why did she have to go to and the marriage therapist.
and
his sister, Joanne, both
He
is
cold
and
asks
repeatedly
heaven?”
testifi
ed that he had returned
for
his
coat
and
a
blanket.
Lay ministers, divorce
“She looks at me with rage from the military a different
attorneys, former friends,
ex-girlfriends and coworkers in her eyes,” Zielinski said person.
“He was more reserved,
were all brought forward on the video. Eventually, he
on
guard and ultra-aware of
walks
the
offi
cer
through
his
to establish that Zielinski
had in fact been obsessed morning. The defendant tells his surroundings,” said Joanne
with keeping his wife from the offi cer how he was in the Zielinski.
“He wasn’t the same Pete.
leaving him at all costs. shower and got out, that Lisa
He
came back a different
came
into
the
bathroom
and
The prosecution sought to
person,” said Dean Zielinski
establish that, up until the asked if she was in his way.
There is a pause and the who described his brother as
months before the murder,
detective
tells Zielinski, “You a happy, fun person who liked
Zielinski appeared stable and
to joke around before he left
have
to
fi
nish
your story.”
had no apparent issues with
He tried to for the Marine Corps.
post-traumatic
Zielinski’s
attorney
hug her but
stress disorder
Matthew
Tracey
also
called
she
pushed
(PTSD).
several
Marine
Corps
veterans
him
away
and
Zielinski’s
told him to who had served with Zielinski
co-worker at
get out of the during Operation Desert
the Salvation
b a t h r o o m . Shield, the fi rst Gulf War.
Army
Kroc
“You’re done They recounted nightmarish
Center, Cheri
in here,” Lisa conditions that included
Hawkins-
their company being carpet
told him.
Weltz, testifi ed
bombed by friendly fi re, the
Z
i
e
l
i
n
s
k
i
that he had
panic that ensued when a
says
he
left
the
sought
her
bathroom, that fellow soldier was buried
and another
— Dean Zielinski he was going alive in his fi ghting hole and
employee
Defendant’s brother
to get a drink the smell of burned civilian
out to ask for
of water but bodies. One memory that
advice
and
instead turned each veteran shared was the
unburden himself.
perpetual state of fear they
toward
a
closet.
Hawkins-Weltz stated that
all lived in as radio operators.
“I
don’t
know
what
I
did.
after Christmas 2010 she
Their antennas, which could
I
don’t
know
how
I
did
it.
noticed that he was talking
to more of his female co- I’m screaming in my mind reach up to 10 feet above
workers about his personal ‘No, No, No,’ but I can’t stop,” their packs, made them a
prime target for the enemy.
problems.
Hawkins-Weltz Zielinski said.
They testifi ed that taking out
“What
do
you
keep
in
said Zielinski appeared to be
a communications operator
“targeting women who were your closet?” the offi cer asks.
would effectively cut the
“I
didn’t
need
anything
out
soft-hearted, easy listeners
company off from the rest of
of
the
closet,”
the
defendant
and comforting” to talk to.
their battalion leaving them
said
in
the
video.
“I
reach
out
She eventually had to address
“sitting ducks.”
the situation because the and …”
Testimony continued until
“Grab
what?”
the
offi
cer
defendant appeared to be
the
defense
asks.
“You
got
getting more and more upset
called
friend
to
say
the
words,
and that he was upsetting the
and colleague,
women he was talking to as Pete. What did
Kathryn Pickett,
you grab? What
well.
to the witness
do
you
see
Emails and text messages
stand. Pickett,
yourself
doing?”
fueled much of the case. It
a
co-worker
“I
can’t,”
was Lisa’s emails and texts to
from
the Kroc
Z
i
e
l
i
n
s
k
i
her co-worker and lover, Jeff
Center,
began
responds.
Morgan, that were discovered
her
testimony
“Pete,
you
by the defendant and deemed
describing her
by the prosecution the motive know what you
friendship with
did.
What
did
for Zielinski killing his wife.
the defendant
you
reach
for
Morgan testifi ed Lisa had
— Kathryn Pickett stating that she
in
the
closet?
told him she was scared of the
Witness for the defense
had
known
got
defendant and he was verbally You’ve
him
for
many
to
say
it.
We
abusive. But, he added, Lisa
years.
She
had
know
what
said she was not concerned
visited
the
defendant
a
total
happened,”
the
detective
said.
for her safety. During cross
“I love her so much,” of 26 times while he was in
examination, Morgan stated
jail, Deputy District Attorney
Zielinski
replies.
Lisa told him about Zielinski
Brendan Murphy said.
“I
know
you
loved
her.
grabbing her around the
“He was a very happy
Something
snapped.
You
have
throat while they were in bed
person who loved to serve. He
asleep and that this was caused to tell the story.”
“I reached for the gun,” always greeted people with a
by war nightmare. He said
the
defendant said. He never smile. He had a servant heart,”
that she told him she played
states
that he shot, but brings she told the defense attorney.
a “role” in public in regard
“The day before the
to her marriage to Zielinski his hand up shaped like a gun
accident
he came to me.
he
pulls
his
fi
nger
back
and
because he could be psychotic.
We
were
close. He came to
says,
“Bang,
bang.”
The
prosecution
also
confi
de
in
me. He needed to
The
prosecution
ended
played
the
video-taped
Keizer Police interview with their case with autopsy talk to somebody about Lisa’s
Zielinski. The jury saw the photos, images meant to affair. He was afraid of losing
defendant on tape just hours stay in the minds of the jury his family. We didn’t normally
GUILTY,
“He wasn’t
the same
Pete. He
came back
a different
person.”
“The day
before the
accident he
came to me.
We were
close.”
talk about deep intimate
things,” Pickett said.
Murphy
immediately
jumped on these comments
during his cross examination.
“Accident?” he asks, “This
the word you used.” He picked
up the gun Zielinski used to
kill Lisa and slammed it down
on the edge of the witness
stand. “Do you know what
this is? Can you accidentally
put a bullet from the magazine
It was presented as a hoax,
something malingerers said
and no symptoms were given.
I knew I felt different. I never
felt I had a place anymore,”
Zielinski said.
He described increasing
wartime nightmares, hyper-
vigilance, an increased startle
response, having night sweats,
being unable to identify his
emotions and feelings and of
being withdrawn and outside
“I look at her lying
there and I’m confused
and I don’t know
what happened. All I
remember is wanting
her to get up.”
— Peter Zielinski,
into the chamber?”
“I was trying to be nice,”
Pickett said. “I thought that
was what this trial is about.”
Defense counsel objected
to the line of questioning
and the jury was sent out.
What followed was a series
of arguments by the separate
counsels on intent and
whether Pickett’s statements
implied she had knowledge
that neither the attorneys nor
the jury were privy to.
“It is an argument between
intent and accident,” Murphy
said.
“She’s a friend,” Tracey
said. “Not an expert.”
“I don’t believe that the
defendant has ever admitted
to killing the victim,” Murphy
replied. “She was commenting
on intent during a trial that is
all about intent.”
Tripp admonished the
witness and brought the jury
back to the courtroom.
Zielinski
began
his
testimony Tuesday, Aug. 27,
describing his childhood and
broken home. According to
Zielinski, alcohol abuse was
frequent and the children
were spanked with a belt.
The punishments increased
the more his father drank. His
attorneys slowly built a picture
of trauma and instability, a boy
who was often pretending
to be happy when he was
smiling.
Tracey followed this with
extensive questions about his
military training, his combat
experiences and the medals he
received. At one point, Tracey
asked if Zielinski was referred
for psychological counseling
after he was discharged.
“It wasn’t something I was
aware of. Acknowledging
feelings was frowned upon.
The term PTSD was not used.
Gulf War Syndrome was used.
Defendant
of society.
As testimony drew nearer
to Lisa’s affair and the
murder, Zielinski described
his memory loss and their
relationship in terms of
loss, war, battle, confl ict and
encounters. He denied being
verbally abusive and calling his
wife names, incidents which
many of the prosecution’s
witnesses
had
testifi ed.
Zielinski claims many of these
comments, in person as well
as in emails, were him being
sarcastic and were meant to be
amusing or inside jokes.
After a day and half of
testimony, Zielinski arrived at
the morning of Lisa’s murder.
Zielinski’s face was blank,
but there was often a tremble
in his voice – the only sign
that he was reliving the actions
that led him to take his wife’s
life. Lisa had just rejected him
for the fi nal time.
“I don’t feel like I am
driving my own body. I am
just moving. I can’t trust
my memory at this point.
I take the gun and go back
to the bathroom.” The door
was closed but he doesn’t
remember opening it, he said.
“I
remember
seeing
Lisa. She turns to me and is
frustrated that I am there. I
raise the gun. I feel the gun fi re
in my hand,” but he doesn’t
remember pulling the trigger.
“I remember Lisa falling to
the ground, I look at her lying
there and I’m confused and I
don’t know what happened.
All I remember is wanting her
to get up.”
After Zielinski testifi ed, the
defense began bringing their
expert witnesses to the stand.
Sociologist William Brown
took the stand. Brown
conducts research on military
culture and its impact on
veterans returning to civilian
life.
“In the civilian world,
everyone is equal. In the
military world, the enemy
is less than human. It makes
it easier to kill them. The
ultimate goal is to kill the
enemy,” Brown stated. He
went on to describe a culture
that celebrates death and
killing which is the opposite
of civilian world values.
Brown testifi ed that once
veterans, especially combat
veterans, leave that culture
they feel displaced and
rejected in the civilian world.
This “sense of other” increases
if they have seen combat and
killed anyone.
Brown’s testimony was
followed by Alex Duncan,
a clinical and forensic
psychologist
originally
contracted by the district
attorney’s offi ce to evaluate
Zielinski. Duncan testifi ed
that, when he met with the
district attorney’s offi ce in
2012, he had concerns about
the defendant’s mental state. It
was his opinion that there was
evidence that Zielinski had
experienced trauma and that
he was exhibiting symptoms
of PTSD.
Duncan indicated that
trauma symptoms, if not
dealt with, become more
pronounced over time. He
told the jury that individuals
with trauma related disorders
often self-medicate with
alcohol to cope with the stress,
fl ashbacks and nightmares.
When any coping mechanism,
good or bad, is removed it
often leads to an increase in
stress and more symptoms.
“The defendant exhibited
signifi cant symptoms of stress
affecting his emotions as well
as his short-term and long-
term memory,” Duncan said.
The defense’s fi nal witness,
Robert Stanulis, is a forensic
and clinical psychologist
with a specialization in
neurobiology.
Stanulis addressed the jury
directly when questioned. He
smiled as he explained the
ins and outs of his research
which looks at incarceration
rates of veterans with PTSD
and he explained that medical
research has shown that
traumatic events physically
alter the brain.
When
asked
about
Zielinski, specifi cally, Stanulis
indicated that after “looking
at all the information, in
context, and what happened
at the time Lisa was killed”
that there appeared to be a
pattern of Zeilinski becoming
dissociative.
Dissociative behavior is
a condition that involves
disruptions or breakdowns of
memory, awareness, identity
or perception.
The defense rested their
case after dealing with
additional questions about
Stanulis’ motives as a witness.
The jury delivered the guilty
verdict in just under three
hours.
Community library welcomes new manager
The Keizer Community Library
(KCL) Board of Directors has ap-
pointed Vicki Brammeier as the new
Library Manager.
A library volunteer for two years,
Brammeier has worked in several areas,
including staffi ng the circulation desk,
posting information on social me-
dia, and coordinating computers and
printers. She is now adding manager
to those responsibilities.
“Vicki has 25 years of management
Legislative Administration,
experience in the areas of
Oregon Department of Cor-
technology operations, ac-
rections, and the Marion
counts receivable and proj-
County Health Department.
ect management,” said Board
“V icki said she felt com-
of Directors President Paula
fortable taking on this new
Guiles. “Her focus will be
responsibility because of the
teamwork with our wonder-
dedication of her co-volun-
ful volunteers so that library
services continue and grow V. Brammeier teers, support of the Board
of Directors, and the impor-
in the Keizer community.”
tance of the library in the
Brammeier’s professional
experience includes work at Oregon community. We’re very excited that
Vicki has added library manager to her
volunteer responsibilities,” Guiles said.
“I have loved books all my life. I
have been a library patron in every
town I’ve lived in,” Brammeier said.
“When I was growing up, my friend
and I would visit the library, check out
books, then spend the rest of the day
reading.”
Brammeier has been married to
Jon, a master woodworker for 32 years.
She has four children and six grand-
children who all live in the Salem and
Portland area. “When I’m not work-
ing at the library, I’m either quilting or
walking my dog, Bo,” she said
The Keizer Community Library,
980 Chemawa Road NE in the Keiz-
er Cultural Center, is open 1-7 p.m.
Monday through Thursday; 1-4 p.m.
Friday; 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday; and
1-4 p.m. Sunday. The library’s website
is www.keizerlibrary.org.
public notices
NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS
In the Matter of the Estate of
Jacquelyn Chase
Marion County Circuit Court
Case No. 19PB06377
All persons having claims
against the above-identifi ed
estate must present them,
within four months after the
date of the fi rst publication
of the notice to the personal
representative at the address
designated in the notice for
the presentation of claims or
they may be barred.
Jim Owens,
Personal Representative
c/o Sam Sears
570 Liberty St. SE,
Suite 240
Salem, Oregon 97301
All persons whose rights
may be affected by the
proceeding
may
obtain
additional information from
the records of the court, the
personal representative, or
the attorney for the personal
representative.
This notice was fi rst
published on August 30,
2019.
8/30, 9/6, 9/13
NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF
THE STATE OF OREGON
FOR THE COUNTY
OF MARION
Probate Department
No. 19PB06524
NOTICE TO
INTERESTED PERSONS
In the Matter of the Estate of
DAVID WALTER
VANDERHOFF,
Deceased.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN
that the undersigned has
been appointed personal
representative. All persons
having claims against the
estate are required to present
them, with proper vouchers, to
the Personal Representative
by directing said claims to
Doug
VandeGriend,
317
Court Street NE #203, Salem,
Oregon 97301, within four
months after the date of fi rst
publication of this notice, or
the claims may be barred.
All persons whose rights
may be affected by the
proceedings may obtain
additional information from
the records of the Court, the
Personal Representative, or
the Attorney for the Personal
Representative,
Doug
VandeGriend.
Submitted 8/22/2019
First Published 8/30/2019
/s/ Jonathan A Clark
Jonathan A Clark,
Personal Representative
PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE:
Jonathan A. Clark
317 Court Street NE #203
Salem, OR 97301
Phone (503) 581-1229
ATTORNEY FOR PERSONAL
REPRESENTATIVE:
Doug Vande Griend
317 Court Street NE #203
Salem, OR 97301
Phone (503) 364-7612
Fax (503) 581-2260
Email: doug@vandegriend.com
8/30, 9/6, 9/13/2019
8/30, 9/6, 9/13
NOTICE TO INTERESTED PERSONS
NOTICE TO
INTERESTED PERSONS
In the Circuit Court of the
State of Oregon
for the County of Marion
Case No. 19PB05973
In the Matter of the Estate
of Helen I. Randle,
Deceased.
Notice is hereby given
that Helen I. Randle died
May 13, 2019, and that by
order of the above entitled
Court, the undersigned has
been appointed Personal
Representative.
All persons having claims
against the Estate are
required to present them to
the Personal Representative
at 693 Chemeketa Street NE,
Post Offi ce Box 2247, Salem,
Oregon 97308-2247, within
four months after the date of
fi rst publication of this notice
or said claims may be barred.
All persons whose rights
may be affected by this
proceeding
are
advised
that additional information
may be obtained from the
records of the Court, the
Personal Representative, or
the attorneys for the Personal
Representative.
Sharon M. Knudsen
Personal Representative
Sherman, Sherman, Johnnie
& Hoyt, LLP
Attorneys for Personal
Representative
693 Chemeketa Street
Post Offi ce Box 2247
Salem, Oregon 97308-2247
Date of fi rst publication:
August 23, 2019
Second
and
third
publication: August 30, 2019;
September 6, 2019
8/23, 8/30, 9/6
SHERIFF’S NOTICE
On 24th day of September,
2019, at 10:00 AM, at the main
entrance of the Marion Co.
Courthouse, in Salem, OR, I will
sell the following real property:
1865 Trade Street SE, Salem,
in the case of NATIONSTAR
MORTGAGE LLC, Plaintiff,
vs. AMY GRENZ, UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA, ADAM
L STEEN, STATE OF OREGON,
OCCUPANTS
OF
THE
PROPERTY, Defendant(s). For
more information go to http://
oregonsheriffssales.org
8/23, 8/30, 9/6, 9/13