Murder trial for Palo woman accused of killing stepmom is on track for May

The murder trial of a Palo woman accused of suffocating her stepmother with a pillow in July 2022 is on track to start May 13 in Benton County District Court.

Samantha Faith Bevans, 34, is charged with first-degree murder in killing of Jodie Bevans, who authorities say was suffocated with a pillow by Samantha while her boyfriend, Tacoa Talley, 38, of North Liberty, choked her in her home on July 14, 2022.

Talley was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder last April in Benton County.

The trial for Bevans is expected to last five days, the judge, prosecution and defense said during a pretrial hearing on Friday. They also discussed some pretrial motions, which 6th Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros said he would ruling on later.

According to criminal complaint, Bevans made threats to harm her stepmother and police found a note written by her that listed that day to “Kill Jodie.”

On Aug. 3, 2022, Bevans, during a police interview, admitted to killing her stepmom with Talley’s help, authorities say.

Investigators also obtained a search warrant for a Snapchat account, which revealed a video created by Samantha Bevans two days after Jodie Bevans was killed — where she admitted to planning and killing her stepmother, according to criminal complaint.

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During Talley’s trial, the video was played. In it, Bevans says “I killed her. I killed her myself,” as Talley encourages her to “keep goin’.”

“And I knew this would happen, so good job,” Talley said.

“We killed her,” Samantha said, and then makes an obscene gesture.

According to the complaint and Talley’s trial, a witness overheard her describing the killing of Jodie Bevans.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Monty Platz, during his opening statement in Talley’s trial, said the motive for the murder was “thousands” of dollars that Talley and Samantha Bevans believed were in the Jodie Bevans’ home safe.

Jodie and Mike Bevans had banned Talley from their home years before. They allowed Samantha Bevans to move back home in 2022 but kicked her out because she had started using drugs again, according to trial testimony.

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