The Ego Takes the Stand Episode 19: WI v. William Zelenski - A Theft, A Gun, A Death

Описание: In this episode of The Ego Takes the Stand, we’re watching William Zelenski testify in the Wisconsin homicide case involving the death of Ryelee Manente-Powell. The trial originally took place on June 20, 2023.

On October 19, 2020, in Waupaca County, Wisconsin, Ryelee Manente-Powell was shot and killed during a confrontation that prosecutors say stemmed from an alleged theft of exotic animals and other property from Zelenski’s home days earlier. Zelenski, who operated an exotic animal business, reported that firearms, alcohol, and multiple exotic animals valued at more than $27,000 had been stolen, and he later received information suggesting Ryelee may have been involved.

According to the criminal complaint, Ryelee and his teenage friend Ashton Tody were accused of stealing multiple animals, including a crocodile, a bearded lizard, snakes, and other items. Tody was not present at the shooting and was not charged in the homicide. His case was limited to the theft allegations, and he was later convicted and sentenced to a three-year term imposed and stayed, with probation and restitution ordered.

At the time, Zelenski was married to April Zelenski and was also in a relationship with Tiffany Powell, Ryelee’s mother. Zelenski and Powell confronted Ryelee on a Waupaca street, and much of the confrontation was captured on a nearby doorbell camera. The footage shows Zelenski approaching an unarmed Ryelee while armed with a shotgun and a taser. Powell was also alleged to have pointed a gun at her son during the confrontation. The gunshot itself was not captured on video.

After the shooting, Zelenski called 911 and reported that Ryelee attacked him before he fired. Ryelee was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Zelenski was charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Tiffany Powell later took a plea and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for her role in the sequence of events leading up to her son’s death.

By choosing to testify, Zelenski places his credibility, judgment, and version of events directly before the jury — making this a case where ego, control, and escalation are central to the testimony.

Judge: Raymond Huber
State: Veronica Isherwood
Defense: Timothy Hogan

Live Trials. Real Cases. No Hype.

#ryeleemanente #williamzelenski #exocticanimals #truecrime

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This video is intended solely for educational and entertainment purposes and does not constitute legal advice. All individuals referenced are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction. The information presented herein is derived from publicly available sources unless expressly stated otherwise. Any third-party resources or links provided are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.

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