Thursday, July 10, 2025
spot_imgspot_img
Thursday, July 10, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Murdered Pregnant Teen’s Brother Blasts Evers, Barnes Over Burlington Killer’s Parole | Tony Evers’ Killers & Rapists #5

spot_img

Since 2019, Gov. Tony Evers’ Parole Commission has released hundreds of convicted criminals, freeing them early on parole mostly into Wisconsin communities, including more than 300 murderers and attempted murderers, and more than 47 child rapists.



5th in the series.


“If we’re not safe, nobody’s safe,” an outraged Raymond Ziebell, of Burlington, told Wisconsin Right Now.

Ziebell’s pregnant teenage sister, Cathy Ziebell, 16, was shot to death and tossed off a bridge in 1975 in Kenosha County by Mark Ketterhagen.

Ziebell learned that his sister’s killer was paroled – for a second time – in 2019 from a WRN reporter.

He blasted Tony Evers and Mandela Barnes during the interview. “I think they’re crooked,” he said, citing Evers’ and Barnes’ comments on the Jacob Blake case, which he believes showed a soft-on-crime philosophy that he believes is playing out with paroles as well.

“I think it’s terrible,” Ziebell said of Ketterhagen’s parole. “Society is breaking down.”

Mark ketterhagen
Kenosha news headline

“If people like Evers keep letting these people out, there will be more murders and more suffering, and then none of us are safe,” said Ziebell.

“Where was justice?” he asked.

Ziebell, a retired teacher who identified his sister’s body, noted: “I’m 80. We have lived a long life. But young people are not going to have that. Look at the crime on the streets of Milwaukee; they (Evers and Barnes) are doing very little about that.” He believes the paroles were “covered up.”

Cathy Ziebell was 16 and pregnant, when her ex-boyfriend, Mark Ketterhagen, 22, took the Kenosha County, Wisconsin, teen for a drive in the country. He wanted her to have an abortion, but her mother wouldn’t support it. So he killed Cathy and the unborn child, news articles from the time say.

Cathy ziebell
Cathy ziebell

Ziebell’s murder was a major news story in Kenosha and Racine Counties when it happened.

Ketterhagen shot her four times and then tossed her body into the Fox River. A major search resulted. Police found a “nine-foot bloodstain trailing off the bridge” just south of the Racine County line.

In 1982, Ziebell’s mom, Ruth, gathered 1,600 signatures to prevent Ketterhagen’s early release from prison. “I thought when a person was convicted and sentenced to life that what they got was life,” the mother said then, according to the Racine Journal-Times. “I wish my daughter had more years added to her life.”

Cathy ziebell
Kenosha news

It worked then, but, Ruth Ziebell has long since passed away, and, in 2019, Gov. Tony Evers took office and appointed John Tate, a man who made his soft-on-criminals views well-known, to run the Parole Commission. Tate approved the paroles. Evers reappointed him in 2021, AFTER Ketterhagen’s parole, saying he was “pleased” to do so.


Evers’ Parole Commission Freed Mark Ketterhagen

Mark ketterhagen
Mark ketterhagen

Date paroled: 10/15/2019 [You can look up his parole date yourself here by putting his name in the Corrections database and clicking on “movement”]

The released killer now lives: West Allis, Wisconsin

Age: 69

Convicted: First-degree intentional homicide, 1975 crime

Sentence: Life. He did not qualify for mandatory release because he received a life sentence for the homicide. Thus, the parole was discretionary.

Other factors: Claimed severe intoxication.

Mark ketterhagen Mark ketterhagen Mark ketterhagen


The Victim: Cathy Ziebell, age 16, who was pregnant

Cathy ziebell
Cathy ziebell

What The Killer Did:

Mark Ketterhagen was convicted in 1975 of the first-degree intentional homicide of 16-year-old Cathy Ziebell of Burlington.

According to court records, the two started dating in 1974. Two months after they broke up, in March 1975, Ziebell told Ketterhagen that she was pregnant with his baby.

Her mother was against her getting an abortion or marrying Ketterhagen and floated the idea of adoption. Mark Ketterhagen would still have to pay the teen’s medical bills.

Two days later, Ketterhagen drank extensively and then picked Ziebell up at her house.

“He drove out to the country, stopped the car on a bridge over the Fox River and got out. Ketterhagen testified that Ziebell then stepped out of the car and told him ‘she was going to stick it to him.’ Angered, Mark Ketterhagen grabbed a .357 Magnum pistol from the front seat of his car and shot Ziebell four times from a distance of seven or eight feet. Ketterhagen then pushed Ziebell’s body off the bridge and into the Fox River,” the court records say.

He was 22 at the time.

According to Raymond Ziebell, 80, Ketterhagen was paroled once before on the murder charge but screwed up on parole and was sent back to prison.

Corrections records do list two paroles for him – one in 1990 and one in 2019 – and only one charge that landed him in prison, the homicide.

He was sent back to prison in 2002. That year, he was charged with causing injury while intoxicated, a misdemeanor for which he received a short jail sentence, court records show.

At first, Raymond, Cathy’s sister and her mother went to parole hearings to keep Ketterhagen in prison, but over time, people passed away.

“The family fell apart after that,” he said. “Of six kids, only two of us are left. It’s sad.”

He said Ketterhagen would ride by their mother’s house and “stick up his middle finger” while out.

“It just never ends,” said Ziebell, who noted that his sister’s unborn baby “would now be 47 years old” if she had lived.

Raymond said he had no idea that Ketterhagen was paroled again and is living in West Allis. “We were never informed even of the first parole,” he said. “If my mom was alive, it would have killed her.” She died in 1990 of cancer.

“My sister, her body was dumped in the Fox River. Her body floated down river about a mile,” he said. “I was the one who identified her body. You know, I felt badly for my mother most of all.”

According to Ziebell, Cathy was the youngest of six kids. He was already 16 years old when she was born. She used to babysit his kids. “We didn’t want the girls to know she was shot,” he said.

He noted, “I believe in God’s justice. The Bible says God will avenge you. It’s not my job.”

 

 

jerome powell

Fed Chair Candidates & New York’s Mayoral Race

Before we talk about the candidates for the Fed Chair position, let’s discuss for a moment the problem with Chair Powell’s current thinking. Right...

Q&A with Tommy Clark, Author of The 2020 Portland Riots: A Fight Against Domestic Terrorism

By Chris Mann Read part 1: Chris Mann's review of The 2020 Portland Riots: A Fight Against Domestic Terrorism by Tommy Clark. Tommy Clark and...

Protecting Portland: No Good Deed Goes Unpunished [REVIEW]

By Chris Mann An In-Depth Review of The 2020 Portland Riots: A Fight Against Domestic Terrorism by Tommy Clark. This summary is the second in...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Conservative Wins in the Wisconsin State Budget Bill That Passed July 3

Wisconsin has a divided government, and, with a Democrat in the governor's mansion, conservatives were not going to get everything they wanted. However, there...

Shorewood Officer Shot; Glendale Pursues Suspect, Who Appears Dead

A Shorewood, Wisconsin, police officer was shot but saved by his bulletproof vest in the early morning hours of July 3. Several hours later, Glendale...
kendall corder

MPD Confirms Sad News That Officer Kendall Corder Has Died; Procession Unfolding

The Milwaukee Police Department has officially confirmed the tragic news that Officer Kendall Corder has died in the line of duty. Earlier in the day,...

Oconomowoc Rotary Refuses to Document ‘Threats’ & There’s No Police Reports

Getting criticized is hard, but reasonable criticism - even heated criticism - is not a threat. And it's what representative democracy is all about,...
kendall corder, tremaine jones

Tremaine Jones: Milwaukee DA Declined to Prosecute Him 4 Times Leading Up to Officer Shooting

KEY FINDINGS: Accused cop shooter Tremaine Jones was given a deferred prosecution agreement for a 2021 Milwaukee case involving a stolen Kia and...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

2 Milwaukee Police Officers Shot Near 25th & Garfield

Two Milwaukee police officers were shot on the evening of June 26, police confirmed. One officer remains in critical condition and the second does...
josh schoemann Washington County’s Early Vote

2026 GOP Candidate Josh Schoemann Challenges Evers’ Budget Approach

(The Center Square) – Josh Schoemann, the only Republican currently in the race for governor next year, is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers’ approach to the next state budget by comparing it to his plans in Washington County.

“In Washington County our budget cycle starts right now, and it’s not due until November. We will propose our budget goals to the County Board in the next couple of months. We will share ‘This is what we’re thinking.’ It gives them months of time to think those through, give us feedback, and [have] that kind of dialogue,” Schoemann explained in an interview on News Talk 1130 WISN.

Schoemann said that is far better than the approach Evers is taking again this year.

“That’s not how government is supposed to work,” Schoemann said. “It’s not the vision of the governor. It’s not the vision of any one person.”

Evers and the Republican legislative leaders who will write the budget have been involved in on-again, off-again budget talks this month. On Thursday, the governor’s office said those talks were off once again because of gridlock in the Senate.

“Ultimately, the Senate needs to decide whether they were elected to govern and get things done or not,” Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback said in a post on X.

Schoemann’s criticism of Evers is nothing new. He has long been a critic of the governor and has turned that criticism up since launching his campaign for governor.

But the recent criticism was also aimed at other Republicans who may jump into the 20206 governor’s race later this year.

“Nobody else in this race on the Republican side, being rumored to this point, has the executive leadership of skills and history to be able to show ‘This is how I’ve done it before, and here’s how we’ll do it Madison,’” Schoemann said. “The results in Washington County speak for themselves.”

Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany is also rumored to be looking to get into the Republican race. Before he went to Congress, Tiffany was a Republican lawmaker in Madison.

Businessman and veteran Bill Berrien is also on the short list of likely GOP candidates for 2026.

richard van buren

Richard Van Buren Arrested in Dodge County Dog’s Death, Sheriff Says

Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Chester Town Board in Wisconsin, was arrested in the death of a golden retriever dog in rural...

Rep. Donovan, Greenfield Officials Outraged at Release of Accused Random Stabber

State Rep. Bob Donovan and top Greenfield officials are expressing outrage and concern over the release of a man who is accused of randomly...

Dodge County Dog’s Death Under Investigation by Wisconsin Sheriff

Update: Richard Van Buren, the chairman of the Town of Chester Board, has now been arrested. See the story here. The Dodge County Sheriff's Office...
Anthony LoCoco

Anthony LoCoco Running for WI Court of Appeals to Defend the Constitution

Note: Anthony LoCoco, of Waukesha, has worked for the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty and the Institute for Reforming Government. He is...

Milwaukee Alderman Voices Frustration at ‘Crumbling’ Roads, Massive Cost Estimate

The Common Council’s Finance and Personnel Committee heard from City Engineer Kevin Muhs today "about a newly released report from the Department of Public...

Oconomowoc Rotary Club Apologizes, Reverses Course After July 4 Parade Mess

The Oconomowoc Rotary Club has apologized for the mess surrounding its July 4 parade and will now allow political parties and elected representatives to...
Killed by Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Milwaukee Reckless Drivers Kill Box In Milwaukee Police

Milwaukee Police Officer Shot by Armed Suspect in Foot Chase, Department Says

Two ghost guns were recovered. A Milwaukee police officer was shot by an armed suspect who refused to drop his gun during a foot chase...

Milwaukee Police Association Raises Alarm on Low District 7 Staffing

The Milwaukee Police Association is raising the alarm about severely low staffing levels in District 7, one of the city's busiest police districts. The MPA,...
uw-madison Administrators at UW Schools

UW Employs 495 Foreign Nationals at Almost $43 Million a Year, But Won’t Release Their Names

With salaries ranging as high as $320,000 a year, are the foreign nationals getting taxpayer-funded jobs at UW instead of qualified U.S. citizens? The...
Governor’s Veto Powers Wisconsin Republicans Parental Bill of Rights Outlaw Child Sex Dolls Embrace Them Both Unemployment Reforms Wisconsin’s Professional Licensing Bail Reform Amendment wisconsin covid-19

Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.