Nicholas Zielinski, 44, and his sister, Melissa Zielinski, 48, have received their punishment for their parts in the death of a man in his residence.
In 2020, Karl Henderson, 22, was fatally shot in Minnesota. He was discovered surrounded in his own blood with his face toward the ground. This was a little bit after Henderson’s father had encountered the siblings in his home.
Henderson’s father stated to police that he got home around 2:30 p.m., on August 27, 2020. He saw an unknown SUV in his driveway. He then discovered two people he didn’t know, the Zielinski’s, in his kitchen.
Before the intruders left the scene, Nicholas Zielinski said to the father, “You’re son stole on me. I’ll take you out, too.”
The father then located his deceased son in his room. He had suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. A 9-millimeter gun was found that wasn’t owned by anyone in the home.
After the killing, Nicholas Zielinski was apprehended for Henderson’s murder. This came when DNA matching him was discovered on the murder weapon.
When detectives searched his phone, they arrested Melissa Zielinski after tracking her location to the same area of Henderson’s home during the murder. She was eventually identified by Henderson’s father as the other person involved.
Nicholas stated during trial that the two had gone to the home to retrieve a debt from Henderson. As his sister held him down, Henderson got away and attempted to get Zielinski’s gun. A tussle then took place.
He then confessed to fatally shooting Henderson.
Nicholas had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January. He received a 19-year sentence. In February, Melissa pleaded guilty to three counts of aiding and abetting a murderer. She was given a life sentence with the possibility of parole in 30 years.
