RANDLE, Wis. — Two individuals were taken into custody following a renewed investigation into a 2003 homicide of a recently married man who was shot in an execution-style killing inside his lakeside home. The breakthrough came during a recent episode of the crime series “Cold Justice,” where investigators revisited the troubling case.
David Vanderzee, a Navy veteran, was discovered deceased in his home on the evening of September 23, 2003, by his wife, Roxanna Vanderzee-Collins. He had been shot five times in the back of the head while preparing dinner. The unsettling scene revealed his unfinished meal on the stove, raising questions about who could have entered the home without breaking in.
In the show’s premiere, Kelly Siegler, a former prosecutor, and homicide investigator Steve Spignola, with assistance from local detectives, dissected the evidence and details of the case that had gone cold for nearly two decades. Tim Vanderzee, David’s brother, expressed relief at the news of the arrests: Roxanna Vanderzee-Collins and John Viskocil, a close acquaintance of the victim.
At the time of the murder, David was considered an unpopular figure in the tight-knit community; his demeanor and financial struggles contributed to a bitter reputation among neighbors. “He wasn’t well-liked because of his controlling nature and his money issues,” observed Sgt. Lt. Neil Paulsen during the investigation.
The initial inquiry was thwarted by a lack of solid leads. Investigators noted that the absence of forced entry suggested the killer was likely familiar to David. Speculation arose that marital tensions may have existed between David and Roxanna, intensified by rumors of her alleged affair with Viskocil, known locally as “Limo John.” Interestingly, shortly after David’s death, the two began living together, raising further suspicion.
As investigators reconstructed the crime scene, they concluded that the act of shooting at such close range pointed to someone David trusted. Furthermore, a 911 call that Roxanna made on the night of the murder hinted at her knowledge of his death before officials arrived.
Examining phone records that day, detectives discovered a series of calls between Roxanna and Viskocil, which began early in the morning and continued through to the late evening. The timeline revealed Roxanna spoke with David shortly before his death, and just minutes after, she contacted Viskocil again, further corroborating suspicions of their involvement.
Witness accounts from Viskocil’s girlfriend indicated that he had been fishing that evening, but her suspicions were aroused by his sudden behavior upon returning home. Following the murder, Viskocil allegedly rushed to change and wash his clothes, claiming to have fallen into the lake—an excuse that raised eyebrows among those who knew him.
The investigative team from “Cold Justice” ultimately approached the district attorney’s office after gathering evidence that connected both suspects to the crime. In a climactic moment captured in the show, arrest warrants were executed, marking a significant step towards justice for David Vanderzee.
“It’s about time,” Tim Vanderzee remarked, reflecting on the long ordeal of seeking answers. He expressed a bittersweet longing for their mother, who had dedicated years to keeping the case alive in the hopes of one day seeing justice served.