Judge Declares Zocco a Risk to the Community

When Kris Zocco entered, the courtroom fell silent. The TV news crews got behind their cameras, and journalists started typing on their computers. The sound of a camera goes off as Zocco makes his way to his seat. After the prosecution stated their piece, Kelly Dwyer’s father, Tony Dwyer, sat down to request the max sentence for Zocco.

“This demon has destroyed us,” said Mr. Dwyer.

After reading his statement, Mr. Dwyer stood up and gave a brief glare at Zocco before going back to his seat in the galley. Kelly’s mother, Maureen, also spoke.

“He (Zocco) deserves to live a long life in jail, hopefully tortured by the choices he’s made,” said Mrs. Dwyer.

Zocco, 43, was sentenced to 31 years in prison by Circuit Judge Jeffrey Wagner. The 31years is also an addition to the 19 years Zocco is currently serving for child pornography. A situation in which graphic images of very young children were found on discs that he had in his possession.  He also must pay a $10,000 fine, and five of the 31 years are for hiding a corpse. The sentencing comes five years after the disappearance of Kelly Dwyer. After Kelly Dwyer went missing Zocco did not call 911, but instead cleaned his apartment extensively, stuffed Kelly into a golf bag, and dumped her body off the side of a road in the bush.

Kelly’s death was that of sexual asphyxiation gone too far. The prosecution indicated that based on the testimonies from women of his past relationships that this was a common theme for Zocco. They detailed the lack of empathy that Zocco had towards what he had done to the victim stating it was for his own pleasure and disregarded the victim. They stated he showed no remorse for what had happened to Kelly, especially after he caused her death. The act of hiding the body showed a disregard for human life and showed a disregard for Kelly’s family. The prosecution also highlighted how Zocco maintained his innocence despite the evidence that proved otherwise. The prosecution called for 25 years for reckless homicide and five years for hiding a corpse.

The defense stated that the relationship between Zocco and Kelly was mutual, and her death was an accident and that Zocco is remorseful. They highlighted the statements made by Zocco’s family in-regards-to his character and the kind of family person he’s been. The defense used his employment as a means to his character. They noted his consistent work and the well-known companies he had worked for, such as Verizon. The defense attempted to discredit the personality allegations against Zocco as well, but didn’t have any way of inhibiting the damage done with the overwhelming evidence against Zocco to help reduce the sentencing. The defense suggested the sentencing should be 22 years. Zocco would be just shy of his 67^th birthday for this recommendation.

Judge Wagner did not agree with the defense, or the length of the recommended sentencing, and believed that the way Zocco handled the situation told everything he needed to know about Zocco’s character and his motives.

“Threw her body away like trash,” said Judge Wagner. Zocco shook his head in disagreement, maintaining his innocence, after this statement Judge Wagner had more choice words to say to Zocco when laying down the sentencing.

“You are a risk to the community,” said Judge Wagner.

After the sentencing the court adjourned and the families, and those who had been affected by Zocco, hugged and smiled, but the pain of losing a loved one will never go away.

“There is no closure,” said Mrs. Dwyer.

The family will likely never recover from the loss of Kelly, but with Zocco behind bars, for what is likely the rest of his life, will help them feel better knowing that no one else will meet the fate that Kelly had at the hands of a man who disregarded human life for his own personal satisfaction.

“What started as consensual turned into an utter disregard for human life,” said Judge Wagner.

Zocco was then immediately removed from the courtroom and sent to the Wisconsin State Prison System. Zocco’s restitution date is slated for January 24^th, 2019.