(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
KENOSHA, Wis. — The man accused of helping orchestrate the 2003 execution-style murder of Navy veteran David Vanderzee appeared in Kenosha County court on Wednesday, more than two decades after the crime.
John Viskocil, now 70, stood silently as Court Commissioner William Michel II imposed a $500,000 cash bond for the charge of first-degree intentional homicide as a party to a crime. Prosecutors allege he used a .38 or .357 caliber firearm to shoot Vanderzee five times in the head inside the victim’s home in the Town of Randall. The murder weapon was never recovered, but Viskocil later admitted to owning similar firearms and turned over two revolvers during the investigation.
Viskocil showed no visible emotion in court. Observers described him as appearing “defeated.”
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
District Attorney Xavier Solis, who personally attended the hearing, initially requested $1 million cash bail. “This is a cold case, or a dated case, back from 2003,” Solis told the court. “The victim was shot five or six times in the face with a .38 or .357 caliber firearm.”
Commissioner Michel acknowledged the gravity of the charge, calling it “very serious” and expressing surprise that no previous district attorney had pursued charges. “He has been charged now. I have no idea why the former DA didn’t charge him then, but I’m not going to draw any speculation as to that,” Michel said, before setting bail and ordering no contact with co-defendant Roxanna Vanderzee-Collins or any members of Vanderzee’s family.
Vanderzee-Collins, who was the victim’s wife at the time of his murder, is currently in custody at the McHenry County Jail in Illinois. She is expected to appear in court next week for extradition proceedings.
The criminal complaint alleges that shortly after marrying David Vanderzee in 2003, Vanderzee-Collins began a romantic affair with Viskocil. Detectives say the two exchanged dozens of phone calls on the day of the murder and that Vanderzee-Collins moved in with Viskocil shortly after her husband’s funeral. Witnesses described her demeanor as “rehearsed” and “emotionless,” and investigators say she never denied her involvement when confronted by detectives.
Detectives retraced the route they believe Viskocil used on the night of the murder — boating across Powers Lake, then walking less than five minutes to the Vanderzee home. The complaint notes that it would have been “unsuspicious” for neighbors to see Viskocil on foot in the area, as he was well-known in the subdivision.
The case had been stagnant for years, with former district attorneys Robert Zapf, Michael Graveley, and others declining to file charges. But that changed under the new administration.
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)
In an interview with Kenosha County Eye following Wednesday’s court hearing, DA Solis said:
“When I took office, I found numerous cases—especially violent crimes—with solid evidence that had been ignored or left to collect dust. That ends now.
In the Kenosha County District Attorney’s Office, crimes supported by evidence will no longer sit on shelves.
Violent offenders will be held accountable. If there is sufficient evidence, there will be charges—without delay, without excuses.”
Viskocil is due back in court for a preliminary hearing at a later date. Vanderzee-Collins remains in Illinois as extradition proceedings are underway. If convicted, both face mandatory life sentences.
2 Responses
Bravo!!!! Go get em Solis!
Will the previous DAs be brought up on charges for ignoring these cases with solid evidence?