Matthew McDowell charged with murder after Erin Ziemendorf found in vehicle near Greyhound station

Michael Lansu — Tue, 29 Oct 2013 17:03:59 -0500

Erin Ziemendorf / Family photo

(KENOSHA, Wis.) A Wisconsin man has been charged with murder after his girlfriend was found beaten to death in the trunk of a car Sunday night near the Chicago Greyhound Station on the Near West Side.

Matthew McDowell, 40, is accused of murdering 30-year-old Erin Ziemendorf, who was found dead in the trunk of a vehicle in the 500 block of South Jefferson Street about 6:25 p.m. Sunday, authorities said.

McDowell, of Kenosha, Wis., was charged with first-degree intentional homicide and hiding a corpse, according to court records. He was ordered held on $350,000 bond Tuesday in Kenosha County court.

Ziemendorf, of the 800 block of West 91st Street in West Allis, Wis., was pronounced dead at the scene and suffered “obvious trauma,” according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

An autopsy Monday found she died of blunt neck trauma from an assault, and her death was ruled a homicide, according to the medical examiner’s office.

McDowell, of the 2000 block of 61st Street in Kenosha, is next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 5.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Matthew McDowell | Homicide Watch Chicago

Matthew McDowell charged with murder after Erin Ziemendorf found in vehicle near Greyhound station