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Bail is $250K for Woman Accused in Student's Death Save Email Print

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UDPATED Wednesday, October 8, 2008 --- 3:20 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A 21-year-old Delafield woman accused of standing by while her boyfriend stabbed and killed a man for his sports car is being held on $250,000 bail.

Tammi L. LaFave is charged with felony murder for her role in last week's death of 31-year-old Haroon Khan.

Prosecutors say she helped kidnap the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student knowing her boyfriend planned to kill him.

Her boyfriend shot and killed himself Friday as police approached his home.

LaFave's attorney, Bridget Boyle-Saxton, said Wednesday it's too early to say how the defense will proceed. She says LaFave and her family are still very emotional, and it's a tough situation for them and the victim's family.

LaFave's preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 15.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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UPDATED Tuesday, October 7, 2008 --- 3:20 p.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- A 21-year-old Delafield woman is the second person to be charged in connection with the death of a 31-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student last week.

Tammi L. LaFave is accused of helping kidnap Haroon Khan, whose body was found in a shallow grave.

A criminal complaint filed Tuesday says she and 20-year-old Travis Zoellick met with Khan on the pretense of buying his car. Zoellick told LaFave he planned to kill Khan and steal the car.

LaFave told police she didn't want to participate but was afraid Zoellick would break up with her.

Zoellick killed himself as police came to his home to investigate. Another man has been charged with harboring and aiding Zoellick.

Online court records didn't list an attorney for LaFave on Tuesday.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, October 6, 2008 --- 10:30 p.m.

BEAVER DAM, Wis. (AP) --- Authorities say a young Watertown man's desire for a sports car led him to kill the owner who had it up for sale and later commit suicide as police were closing in on him.

Two other young people are jailed in the killing of 31-year-old University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student and businessman Haroon Khan, who was reported missing last Wednesday night.

More details of the case emerged when one of them was charged today with aiding a felon.

The criminal complaint says 19-year-old Zachary Zaborek of Watertown failed to tell police that 20-year-old Travis Zoellick of Watertown told him Thursday of the killing, and he helped Zoellick evade police after that.

Police got a tip Friday that led them to Zoellick's home late that night, but he shot himself to death in his bedroom before they could arrest him.

A 21-year-old Delafield woman is expected to be charged tomorrow.

The complaint against Zaborek says Zoellick told him he and the woman pulled a gun on Khan, tied his hands and drove him to a wooded area outside Watertown where Zoellick stabbed him in the stomach, heart, throat and head.

Cash bond for Zaborek is set at $25,000.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

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UPDATED Monday, October 6, 2008 --- 1:50 p.m.

BEAVER DAM, Wis. (AP) -- The Dodge County Sheriff says the body found in a shallow grave is that of a missing University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee student.

Sheriff Todd Nehls says an autopsy confirmed the victim as 31-year-old Haroon Khan, but it's unknown how he died. The sheriff says two people are in jail in the killing and a third suspect, 20-year-old Travis Zoellick of Watertown, shot and killed himself before the body was recovered.

Nehls says the theft of a car is the motive for the crime.

Authorities found Kahn's vehicle in a storage unit in southern Dodge County and, on Saturday afternoon, found a body in a shallow grave about 220 yards away.

Khan was reported missing Wednesday.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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UPDATED Monday, October 6, 2008 --- 10:55 p.m.

From the Dodge County Sheriff's Department:

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Dept. continues its homicide investigation. Two suspects that were taken into custody over the weekend on charges surrounding the investigation are:

Suspect #1 - Tammy L. LaFave, 21, of Delafield, is being held on charges of Party to a Crime of 1st Degree Homicide and Kidnapping and may be formally charged tomorrow.

Suspect #2 - Zachary S. Zaborek, 19, of Watertown, is being held on charges of Aiding a Felon and most likely may be formally charged at 12:45 p.m. today.

Suspect #3 – Travis Zoellick, 20, of Watertown, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head last Friday evening.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Dept. continues the investigation. We are also executing additional search warrants and working closely with DA William Bedker.

“We are asking that any person(s) that may have any information regarding the named suspects or any information regarding the death please contact the Dodge County Sheriff’s Dept. at 920-386-3726. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the WeTip hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME,” stated Detective Vicki Brugger who is the lead investigator in this case

“The cooperation between the numerous agencies, Milwaukee PD, Watertown PD, UW-Milw PD, Town of Emmett PD, and several others who are assisting has been and continues to be superior,” stated Sheriff Todd Nehls.

The next release will be upon verification of positive identification of the victim.

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UPDATED Saturday, October 4, 2008 --- 7:55 p.m.

An updated press release from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office:

Dodge County sheriffs Dept remain on the scene investigating the death of a man who's body was discovered in a shallow grave in the Town of Emmet in southern Dodge County.

Authorities have been on the scene since late Friday night collecting evidence and executing search warrants.

At approx. 2:00 p.m. Saturday authorities did located the body of a man in a shallow grave. There has been no positive ID and will not occur until an autopsy on Monday.

"We do have two suspects in custody who are cooperating with us," stated Sheriff Todd Nehls. "We have had a liaison here from both Milwaukee PD and UW-Milwaukee PD and are aiding in our investigation. "

"We have also had a member of the Khan family with us all day. Our thoughts and prayers are with them. "

Dodge County has also recovered three vehicles and a skid loader which will be processed for evidence.

The third suspect, a 20 year old Watertown man has died as the result of a self inflicted gunshot wound as authorities arrived at his house to take him into custody. This occurred in Watertown Friday evening.

"We will be working with Dodge Co DA William Bedker for charges against the two in custody, hopefully early next week." stated Nehls.

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UPDATED Saturday, October 4, 2008 --- 4:00 p.m.

Below is the news release from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Dept. is currently investigating an alleged homicide that occurred on or about October 1st in Dodge County.

The investigation began when two teenagers came to Watertown PD to report information they had received that a 20 yr old friend of theirs made statements to them that he killed someone.

The Dodge County Sheriff’s Dept. worked closely with Watertown PD, Milwaukee PD, and UW-Milwaukee PD in the investigation which authorities are lead to believe that the victim may be the missing UW-Milwaukee student Haroon Khan. Khan was reported missing on Oct 1st. from Milwaukee.

Throughout Friday night and Saturday investigators executed several search warrants within the City of Watertown and the Town of Emmett just north of Watertown.

Authorities have identified three perpetrators in the alleged homicide.

The perpetrators include a 20-yr old female from Delafield who is in custody, and a 20-yr old male from Watertown who is also in custody. Both are cooperating with authorities and currently detained at the Dodge County Detention Facility.

A third suspect, a 20-yr old man from Watertown has died of a self inflicted gunshot wound to the head. This occurred as authorities approached his residence at 11:30 p.m. Friday night.

Authorities have also Khan’s vehicle in a mini storage unit located at the site. Currently, authorities are completing the removal of a body from a shallow grave 200 meters from where the Khan vehicle was located. There is no positive identification at this time.

Assisting Dodge County include Dodge Co. DA Bill Bedker, Watertown PD, City of Milwaukee PD, UW-Milwaukee PD, Juneau Fire Dept., Dodge County Med Examiners Office, State of WI Crime Lab, and Town of Emmett PD.

Zachary Zaborek
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Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 13, 2008 at 09:46 PM
just because watertown is small doesn't mean that we are crazy, crazy people come from all sorts of populations. I think what he did was sick he really did need help too bad he didn't get it.

Posted by: Jake Location: Madison on Oct 9, 2008 at 04:37 AM
you all crack me up!! "they were good kids"... why do people who know murderers like that mineral point guy who killed his friend while drunk driving, or Adam Peterson, or Samantha Young, or Richard Putz always say "they were such good kids"! Jeffrey dahlmer was probably a good kid, as was Charles Manson, and Adolf Hitler, and Ho Chi Minh... but they sure sucked as adults! Being a good kid doesn't mean you're always going to be a good person, it just means as long as mom and dad had you under their control, you didn't dare screw up! For all you chicks that are freakin' cause you had dude's tongue in your mouth, or hung out with him, or whatever... OK! Guess maybe next time you'll think twice before waving the white panties of surrender to some booty call, huh? News flash, maybe he was stupid, but maybe he didn't think talking about his feelings of violence and hatred would turn you on. (and if they do, and you're disappointed he never talked about them, then you're a sick pup too!)

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 8, 2008 at 12:50 AM
I just found out about this today. I heard about it, but no one told me the last names. Travis has been beggin me to hang out wit him for weeks. But we never did. We hung out a lot years ago. On Friday, he texted me and told me that we NEED to hang out the next day... Well, maybe im glad that i wouldnt hang out with him on friday.. and saturday wasnt a choice. i dont kno what to really think right now. Half of me is tellin me to hate him, the other half is telling me that i love him. I will always miss him, but im verrry disgusted with him..

Posted by: bossplaya Location: milwaukee on Oct 7, 2008 at 05:32 PM
this is what WT does in their spare time! These peeps look like they have a little small town crazy in their eyes.

Posted by: samantha Location: watertown on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Zachary zaborek what the heck. your stupid i cant believe i let you in my house. call me when your out of jail.

Posted by: samantha Location: watertown wisconsin on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:46 PM
I dated Travis for 4 months. i thought he was everything to me. we spent alot of time together, and he never talked to me about killing/hurting anyone. it was a HUGE shock to me and my friends from Watertown. if you are going to do something this stupid then go for it. but make sure that you are ready to go to prison for the rest of your life. besides it reminds me of a movie. just SICK!!

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 04:36 PM
These young people obviously have some sort of mental issues to think was a good idea. did they honestly think they could get away with it? To: a Location: madison on Oct 7, 2008 at 01:45 PM "what white trash" i honestly laughed out loud. thank you for saying what others dont have the balls to say. my thoughts and prayers are with Kahn's family. i can't imagine what they are going though trying to make sense of a senseless murder.

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 7, 2008 at 02:41 PM
Does anyone see a similarity between this murder and the murder up north where he tried to burn the body in the junk yard? "i never would have thought that they would ever do something to this extreme." "To this extreme" suggests that you believe that they would do something bad, but just not "this extreme." Evidently young people think that violence is a normal thing as long as it does not go to extreme.

Posted by: a Location: madison on Oct 7, 2008 at 01:45 PM
those r some sick kids how could u do that over a freakin car! have fun in jail iam sure youl make lots of friends cause u seem like some really normal people. what white trash

Posted by: Faye Location: jefferson cty on Oct 7, 2008 at 12:10 PM
what the crap were they thinking? no matter what if you do something like that and then talk about it? come on? they were bound to get caught and thank god for those good hearted people who told the police. but its too bad that death had to be involved. thoughts and prayers to haroons family

Posted by: x Location: watertown on Oct 7, 2008 at 11:34 AM
Look up Zoellick's police record. He wasn't the nice guy some may think he was.

Posted by: Pam on Oct 7, 2008 at 10:43 AM
they look like real winners, may they rot in jail

Posted by: Newman Location: Beaver Dam on Oct 7, 2008 at 06:24 AM
What does Beaver Dam have to do with this? Hurry get the story out, just pick a town? Get a map, I'm sure you'll find Juneau or Watertown on it.

Posted by: anonymous Location: Watertown on Oct 7, 2008 at 05:23 AM
How can anyone's heart go out to Travis's family? Travis was a loser who killed someone to get a car. What can be more pathetic than that? I think Travis's family is better off without him. On the other hand, he destroyed his whole family's reputation forever. I'm ashamed to be a resident of Watertown with losers like this living in my hometown. Well I guess Travis isn't living here anymore.

Posted by: lkp on Oct 6, 2008 at 05:44 PM
i have known both travis and zach since middle school. they were both good kids. we even had some of the same friends. i was horrified when i heard the news about what happened. i never would have thought that they would ever do something to this extreme. my heart goes out to travis's family as well as to the kahn family, espeially since there was a wedding that was to be had in the near future. i am so sorry to hear of your losses.

Posted by: kw Location: Watertown on Oct 6, 2008 at 03:40 PM
I went to school with travis and zack i never thought they coould do this.... everyone is just so surprised my heart goes out to everyoone who is hurting from this horrible event

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 6, 2008 at 02:11 PM
i work with travis z's mom. he was everything to her. shes gotta be having a hard time

Posted by: anon Location: janesville on Oct 6, 2008 at 12:49 PM
They were and are ALL LOSERS!

Posted by: justapost Location: madtown on Oct 6, 2008 at 11:35 AM
This is a sick, sick story to allow people to comment on. Please do not post any messages here! It's just too sad. Please think of the victim's family before you say anything here.

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