Appeals court overturns Blahnik Church murder conviction

The Iowa Court of Appeals on Wednesday overturned the second-degree murder conviction of a Marion man for fatally stabbing Chris Bagley in 2018, ruling the judge abused his discretion in asking the jury to continue deliberations when jurors revealed, in a note, “open hostility toward a lone holdout juror.”

The court ruled that 6th Judicial District Judge Christopher Bruns shouldn’t have given a supplemental instruction after receiving notes from the jury in the murder trial of Drew Blahnik, who since changed his name to Johnny Blahnik Church. The trial judge had urged jurors, who deliberated for three days, to reach a unanimous verdict despite the conflict.

“Because the minority juror knew the court was aware of the split and the majority jurors’ hostility, that juror may well have viewed the supplemental instruction — in response to the third note — as directing the minority to join the majority,” the appeals court stated.

The court also noted that the trial judge should have referred the jury to its original instruction on deliberations, instead of giving a supplemental one.

Bruns, in his ruling denying Blahnik Church’s motion for a new trial before sentencing, said after both formal and informal discussion with the prosecution and defense, he had provided a jury instruction previously approved by the appellate courts. He thought the instruction would be less likely to cause one juror to view it as an attempt to exert pressure for changing a position, Bruns wrote.

However, the appeals court said defendants have a “fundamental right” to have a jury trial “determined by an unanimous verdict.” Blahnik Church’s “right to the verdict of all the jurors was prejudiced.” The court reversed and remanded the case for a new trial.

First Assistant Linn County Attorney Monica Slaughter said the office will ask the Iowa Attorney General’s Office for further review by the Iowa Supreme Court. If the office agrees, then it will go to the higher court, asking it overturn the appeals court ruling.

If the court denies or upholds the appeals ruling, then the Linn County Attorney’s Office will retry Blahnik Church for Bagley’s murder.

Stewart Bagley, Chris’ father, said Wednesday the family was “shook up” when they learned of the appeals ruling.

“The thought of sitting through another trial is devastating for us,” he said. But he said he is willing to do it to get justice for his son.

Courtney Bagley, Chris’ wife, said the ruling is “devastating, infuriating and positively soul-crushing.”

“The reality that we are forced to put our lives, that we have finally taken control of again, on hold for a new trial is beyond anything words can convey,” Courtney told The Gazette in an email Wednesday. “I want to thank the Linn County Attorney’s Office and all who have worked tirelessly, prayed, sent their love and thoughts to us through this unimaginable nightmare that is coming back to haunt us.”

Blahnik Church, 35, was convicted of second-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of prosecution. He was sentenced to 57 years in prison.

According to testimony at the trial, Blahnik “hunted down” Bagley, 31, of Walker, on behalf of drug dealer Andrew Shaw, who wanted Bagley eliminated. Shaw hasn’t been charged in this case.

Drew Wagner, also convicted in this case, testified he and Blahnik found Bagley in the early morning hours of Dec. 14, 2018, at a trailer in Cedar Rapids. Wagner, in his testimony, said he got into an argument that escalated into a shoving or wrestling match with Bagley. When Wagner had control of Bagley with his arms around him — pinning Bagley’s arms down — Blahnik started stabbing him.

A medical examiner said Bagley was stabbed 13 times in the neck and torso. Most of the wounds — to the stomach, spinal column, spleen and abdomen — could have been fatal, she said.

Blahnik Church claimed self-defense at trial.

Blahnik Church will remain in jail because he is also serving time on federal drug charges and in Linn County for beating up a drug informant while in jail.

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