MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The pregnant woman, whose body was found badly burned in a coach in Minneapolis last week, has been identified.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s office identified the victim as Annysa Zierhut, 28, from Minneapolis. Her body was found in a trailer near 35th South and Hennepin Avenues on November 8th. The child she was carrying also died.
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The accused are Jade Monet Rissell, 27, and Shannon Michael Benson, 42. They are charged with the death of Zierhut and her child with murder. Both are currently located in the Hennepin County Jail.
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According to a criminal complaint, Rissell lured the victim into the trailer via Facebook a week before the fire. Rissell told investigators that she hit a decorative hat with knuckles and knocked her unconscious. She and Benson then left the victim in the trailer for a few days before bringing him near the 35th and Hennepin to be cremated.
People near Zierhut reported her missing on October 31. According to the complaint, Rissell admitted setting fire to the trailer to cover up the body.
If convicted of murder, both Rissell and Benson will spend decades behind bars.
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