Sunday afternoon, just off 23rd and Ramsey Avenue on Milwaukee’s south side, a hush fell over the neighborhood as police and the county medical examiner arrived at a modest home now at the center of a death investigation. A gentle presence in the community, Carrie Zettel, has been identified as the victim — and according to those closest to her, the loss is both shocking and heartbreaking.
Two women who called Zettel lifelong friends spoke to CBS 58 on the scene. One was Zettel’s daughter, the other a childhood companion. The daughter described her mother as a guiding force — someone she called “second mother,” who nurtured and uplifted her through life’s storms. Her friend remembered Zettel as warm, generous, and always there for others.
The tragedy took an even darker turn when the women revealed that Carrie was allegedly killed by her adult daughter at the home they shared. Details about the motive or circumstances remain unknown. Milwaukee Police confirmed their involvement in the investigation and said they are working to piece together exactly what happened. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner is assisting with the review.
At the scene, neighbors looked on in whispered shock, comforted by one another but shaken by the violence that unfolded so close to home. Some described seeing police tape and investigators going in and out of the house, their faces serious and full of urgency. Others spoke of how rare — and yet how devastating — violence is in a place that had mostly been quiet.
In the hours since the discovery, community leaders, pastors, and neighbors have rallied. Flowers, cards, and small tokens began appearing near the home, left by people who barely knew Carrie — yet already feel the weight of this loss. Friends have posted online about her love for family, her kindness to neighbors, her laugh.
As investigators sort through evidence and interviews, many questions remain unanswered: What led to this breaking point? What was the history between mother and daughter behind closed doors? And how does a neighborhood heal after such a storm?
For now, friends and family are left with grief, memories, and the persistent ache of not knowing. They say they will hold on to images of Carrie as a mentor, a confidant, a second mother to many. As the community watches and waits, the hope is that the truth will emerge — and that those left behind can find closure amid sorrow.