Judge Declines To Release Slain Student's 911 Call
Warrants Describing Calls Were Made Public Last Week
Updated: 7:15 am CST December 11, 2008
Related
SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Doty Street Investigation
READ: Authorities Continue To Investigate After UW Student Found DeadREAD: Neighbor: Intruder Entered Nearby Home Shortly Before Student's Body FoundREAD: UW Students Concerned About Safety After Slaying
VIDEO: UW Student Found Dead (April 2008)VIDEO: Neighbors React To Death (April 2008)READ: Read Falk Memo To 911 Center (PDF Format) (May 2008)READ: Read Kathleen Falk Statement Regarding 911 Incident (PDF Format) (May 2008)
Brittany Zimmermann
SLIDESHOW: See Photos Of Doty Street InvestigationREAD: Authorities Continue To Investigate After UW Student Found DeadREAD: Neighbor: Intruder Entered Nearby Home Shortly Before Student's Body FoundREAD: UW Students Concerned About Safety After SlayingVIDEO: UW Student Found Dead (April 2008)VIDEO: Neighbors React To Death (April 2008)READ: Read Falk Memo To 911 Center (PDF Format) (May 2008)READ: Read Kathleen Falk Statement Regarding 911 Incident (PDF Format) (May 2008)MADISON, Wis. -- A judge refused on Wednesday to immediately release a recording of a 911 call from a slain University of Wisconsin-Madison student's cell phone.
TALKBACK: What Do You Think?Dane County Circuit Court Judge Richard Niess said it would be irresponsible to make the tape public before he hears arguments from police on how it could hurt their search for whoever killed Brittany Zimmermann, 21, in April.He scheduled a hearing on that issue for next week.But the judge on Wednesday ordered the release of the full copy of Dane County's 911 Center investigation report. That report could be released as early as Thursday.Previously, the county had redacted an interview with the 911 dispatcher who handled the call from Zimmermann in April.The 911 call has been the source of public controversy for months. A warrant made public last week said the call that lasted 57 seconds contains the sounds of screaming and a struggle.Dane County 911 center officials said the operator could not hear those sounds, did not call back the number as required and did not send any officers to investigate. No officers were dispatched to the area where the cell phone call originated until 48 minutes later, after a roommate found the woman dead.A group of media outlets, including WISC-TV, is seeking access to the tape and all documents concerning the 911 Center's investigation into its handling.The judge on Wednesday also ordered the release of a call from Zimmermann's boyfriend, who found her body.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
TALKBACK: What Do You Think?Dane County Circuit Court Judge Richard Niess said it would be irresponsible to make the tape public before he hears arguments from police on how it could hurt their search for whoever killed Brittany Zimmermann, 21, in April.He scheduled a hearing on that issue for next week.But the judge on Wednesday ordered the release of the full copy of Dane County's 911 Center investigation report. That report could be released as early as Thursday.Previously, the county had redacted an interview with the 911 dispatcher who handled the call from Zimmermann in April.The 911 call has been the source of public controversy for months. A warrant made public last week said the call that lasted 57 seconds contains the sounds of screaming and a struggle.Dane County 911 center officials said the operator could not hear those sounds, did not call back the number as required and did not send any officers to investigate. No officers were dispatched to the area where the cell phone call originated until 48 minutes later, after a roommate found the woman dead.A group of media outlets, including WISC-TV, is seeking access to the tape and all documents concerning the 911 Center's investigation into its handling.The judge on Wednesday also ordered the release of a call from Zimmermann's boyfriend, who found her body.Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.
Previous Stories:
- December 5, 2008: City, State Seek To Join Zimmermann 911 Call Lawsuit
- December 3, 2008: Warrants Disclose More Details In Zimmermann Death
- December 3, 2008: Neighborhood Residents React To Zimmermann Case Details
- November 27, 2008: Judge Lets Media Attorney Hear Zimmermann 911 Call
- November 17, 2008: Zimmermann Family Releases New Statement
- November 12, 2008: Reward Fund Increased In Zimmermann Case
- November 8, 2008: Dane County, Madison Working On 911 Problems
- October 19, 2008: Zimmermann, Marino Families Post New Reward Fliers
- October 11, 2008: Zimmermann's Mother Makes First Public Appeal
- September 13, 2008: Zimmermann's Family Files New Lawsuit
- September 4, 2008: New Zimmermann Reward Fund Created
- July 29, 2008: Attorney: Zimmermann's Parents Drop Suit Against County, 911 Dispatcher
- July 15, 2008: Zimmermann News Clipping Found In Home Of Abduction Suspect
- June 20, 2008: Dane County Changes 911 Policy After UW-Madison Student's Death
- June 18, 2008: Zimmermann's Parents Want Copy Of 911 Call
- June 14, 2008: Family Of Slain UW-Madison Student Sues County, 911 Operator
- May 19, 2008: Police: Zimmermann, Marino Slayings Don't Appear To Be Linked
- May 14, 2008: Editorial: Officials' Response To 911 Controversy Prompts Praise, Concern
- May 13, 2008: Report Says 911 Dispatcher Made Protocol Errors
- May 13, 2008: Editorial: Madison Police's Stance Leads To Loss Of Confidence, Jeopardizes Trust
- May 11, 2008: Officials Release Edited, Redacted Report On Controversial 911 Call
- May 7, 2008: Falk's Admission Of Mistakes Could Be Used In Court
- May 6, 2008: County Officials To Offer Apology To Zimmermann's Family, Fiance
- May 6, 2008: Oversight Board Chair Says He Heard Of 911 Call Day After Slaying
- May 5, 2008: Local Officials To Release New Details In Zimmermann Case
- May 5, 2008: 911 Dispatcher Who Took Zimmermann's Call Transferred
- May 5, 2008: Mifflin Street Revelers Remember Brittany Zimmermann
- May 3, 2008: Student's Death Looms Over Mifflin Street Block Party
- April 17, 2008: Family Sets Up Memorial Fund For Slain UW-Madison Student
- April 14, 2008: Landlord: Slain Student's Fiance Will Be Let Out Of Lease
- April 14, 2008: Homicide Victim's Fiance Must Fulfill Apartment Lease
- April 12, 2008: Police Investigate Similarities In 2 Homicide Cases
- April 11, 2008: Police: Signs Of Forced Entry At Zimmermann's Building
- April 10, 2008: Investigation Continues Week After Slaying Of UW Student
- April 5, 2008: Marshfield High Struggles To Understand Former Student's Death
- April 4, 2008: Slain Woman Remembered As Driven Student With Big Goals
Copyright 2008 by Channel 3000. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
