Man arrested, released for death of man faces two murder charges

CEDAR RAPIDS - The man arrested, and subsequently released, in connection with a man found dead in the parking lot of a church is back in jail and faces two murder charges.

Travis Lynn Standlee was booked into the Linn County Correctional Center about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday night on two counts of first-degree murder, according to jail log information.

Standlee, 44, was previously arrested the night of Sept. 9 in the death of Raymond Ursino, whose body was found in the parking lot of the First Presbyterian Church, 310 Fifth Street SE, early Sept. 5.

An autopsy determined Ursino's death was caused by strangulation, according to a release from the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Standlee was released from custody Sept. 10 after the Linn County Attorney's Office determined it did not have sufficient evidence at the time to charge Standlee with a crime related to Ursino's death.

On the morning of Sept. 11, the body of Sharon Mead, 41, was found near Coe College. Police have called that an 'unattended death” and said at the time it did not have a known address for her.

Authorities have not said Standlee had anything to do with Mead's death.

A Linn County Jail supervisor said he could not elaborate beyond listing the charges against Standlee and referred all other questions to Cedar Rapids police.

The Cedar Rapids Police Department confirmed Tuesday night that Standlee was booked into the Linn County Correctional Center and said further comment would follow Wednesday.

Funeral services for Mead were Sept. 19 in her home state of Michigan, according to her obituary. Born in Owosso, Mich., she is survived by her parents and two sons, her obituary said.