Docs: Slain man forced to eat cat litter before attack posted on Snapchat
MILWAUKEE – Three people are facing charges after police say a murder victim was forced to eat cat litter and then beaten in an attack posted on Snapchat, according to charging documents and CBS affiliate WDJT.
The body of Delvin Mendoza-Chaparro, 20, was discovered on Dec. 19 behind the garage of a home on South 6th Street in Milwaukee.
Devin Katzfey, 20, and Sarah Zakzesky, 20, both face first-degree reckless homicide charges. Devin Katzfey’s brother Branden Katzfey, 19, is facing a charge a first-degree reckless homicide as a party to a crime, according to charging documents provided by the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office.
According to the criminal complaint, a Milwaukee Police detective investigating the report of a deceased person said Mendoza-Chaparro was found wearing a Marquette University sweatshirt and Levi jeans. He was reportedly not wearing any socks or shoes. Wind chills on the night of Dec. 18 and 19 reached negative temperatures.
WDJT reports that an autopsy found Mendoza died from “multiple blunt force injuries of the head.” An investigating detective said in a report the victim’s face and neck appeared to be severely battered.
Zakzesky allegedly told investigators the night before Mendoza-Chaparro died, Devin Katzfey, Branden Katzfey and her roommate were smoking marijuana at an apartment. Mendoza-Chaparro told her he was going to come over. Zakzesky said she fell asleep before he did.
Zakzesky told police she woke up in the middle of the night and found Mendoza-Chaparro sleeping on the floor in the living room. She went back to sleep and was woken up by Devin Katzfey. She told police he was upset and accused Mendoza-Chaparro of stealing a bong, a pipe and other items.
Zakzesky reportedly said Katzfey claimed he saw the stolen items in Mendoza-Chaparro’s coat.
Zakzesky told investigators Katzfey dragged Mendoza-Chaparro into the kitchen and started beating him. According to the criminal complaint, Devin Katzfey punched and kicked Mendoza-Chaparro repeatedly. Zakzesky estimated he hit him 25 times. She told police Devin Katzfey’s brother Branden Katzfey joined in the beating, hitting Mendoza-Chaparro about five times. At this point, Zakzesky said, Mendoza-Chaparro was unconscious. She also admitted to hitting and kicking him.
The criminal complaint reads: “[Zakzesky] stated that the victim had no chance and he didn’t have a chance to raise his fists and fight man to man.”
Police are investigating three Snapchat videos recorded during the beating. Zakzesky said Devin Katzfey recorded Mendoza-Chaparro from the victim’s own Snapchat account, police say.
Police recovered all three videos and describe them in the criminal complaint.
In the first video, Mendoza-Chaparro’s badly battered face is shown. He is injured, but appears to be alive. A voice can be heard taunting the victim: “You know who this is, this Superman.”
In the second video, Mendoza-Chaparro is lying on his side in what appears to be an apartment. The victim is clearly hurt. The voice on the video says, “You hear me, that’s what happens when you try to steal.”
According to the criminal complaint, the person recording the video turns the camera on himself. Devin Katzfey’s Facebook account is listed under the name SupermanX74. Police say in the complaint they believe the person who filmed the video to be Devin Katzfey.
In the third video, the victim is seen lying by a kitty litter box, “injured and battered.” He attempts to get up and Devin Katzfey can be seen kicking him down to the ground, the complaint says. Another person can be seen urinating on the victim. Branden Katzfey told investigators his brother was the primary agressor, but admitted to punching Mendoza-Chaparro. He also admitted urinating on the victim and said Devin Katzfey forced the victim to eat cat litter and feces from the litter box, the complaint says.
Zakzesky reportedly told investigators that after the beating she drove Mendoza-Chaparro and Devin Katzfey to the area of South 6th Street, about five blocks away. She claims she told Devin Katzfey they needed to get Mendoza-Chaparro help, but he said no. She told police she stopped the car and Katzfey was holding Mendoza-Chaparro, when he fell into a snowbank.
According to the criminal complaint, police asked Zakzesky what she thought would happen when they left him there, and she said she didn’t know. Zakzesky said they left Mendoza-Chaparro in the snow.
Zakzesky pleaded not guilty in court on Thursday.
