Iowa City man gave different stories to police about woman’s assault on UI campus

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man, who is on trial this week for robbing and trying to kill a woman on the University of Iowa campus on April 25, 2022, told a police investigator different stories about what happened that night, but never admitted to assaulting the woman, only to stealing her diamond earrings.

Ali Younes, then 20, and a UI student at the time, initially told police he had been studying on campus that night, then his girlfriend picked him up, they smoked marijuana, had sex and went to bed.

He then changed that story to say he smoked marijuana at about 9 p.m., near the Iowa Memorial Union bridge, and went for a walk.

Younes then told UI police detective Josh Lovick, in a recorded interview on April 26, 2022, he was going to tell him the truth. He told Lovick he saw the woman and a “dude” chasing her. Younes attempted to follow but they were too far ahead of him. He saw them going toward the Art Building West, 141 N. Riverside Dr., in Iowa City, but by the time he got there, the woman was passed out on the ground.

Younes, now 22, is charged with attempted murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree theft. The prosecution rested Wednesday and the defense didn’t have any witnesses.

Younes waived his right to a jury trial, so 6th Judicial District Judge Kevin McKeever will decide the verdict in this bench trial.

McKeever will provide a written verdict, likely in a few months. The prosecution and defense have more than a month to file their written closings before a verdict is made.

During Tuesday’s testimony, the woman who was attacked, Anne Rizzo, testified Younes followed her after she crossed the Iowa Memorial Union pedestrian bridge and “tackled” her from behind, knocking her to the ground outside the Art Building West. He got “on top” of her and strangled her. Later, while at the hospital and talking to police, she realized he also stole her earrings, valued at $25,000.

Defendant told police he was ‘super high’ night of attack

Younes, in the video interview, said the attacker was tall — about 6 feet, 2 inches — and was wearing black jeans and a red and white jacket. Younes drew a map to show where he was and where the assault happened.

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He said he got “scared and freaked out” when two women approached to help Rizzo, after they saw him standing over her on the ground. Younes said he was “super high” and had only taken Rizzo’s diamond earrings, not assaulted her.

Younes said he knew stealing the earrings was “morally” wrong and he wanted to give them back. He told Lovick the police could find them hidden in a floss container in a bathroom cabinet at his girlfriend’s apartment.

Lovick continued to ask him what happened, indicating he believed Younes was the attacker, but Younes said he only took the earrings.

Younes did say the attacker must have “choked” her because she looked “purple” and was unresponsive with “spit” around her mouth. He thought she was dead and took her earrings.

At one point, Younes stopped answering Lovick’s questions or talking to him.

Younes did ask what would be the charges for the crime.

Lovick, who is now a sergeant with the department, testified Younes’ description about the attacker was similar to what was sent out in the initial Hawk Alert. A Hawk Alert is an electronic message sent to students, faculty and others when there is a security issue on the UI campus. The suspect was described as a white male wearing a red and white coat.

There were no details about the woman being choked, Lovick noted. The alert only reported that there had been an assault with injury.

Lt. Travis Tyrrell testified they found Younes’ jacket, which matched the description, and photo of Younes in the apartment of Younes’ girlfriend, Maria Ortiz, who testified Tuesday. Police also found the stolen earrings in a floss container, where Younes said they would be.

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Younes confessed in 2024 interview

Another detective, Brett Cooper, testified Wednesday about a video recorded interview with Younes in September 2024, after Younes fled the country while under home arrest and then self surrendered in Chicago in August 2024.

During this interview, which Detective Ian Mallory testified about on Tuesday, Younes said he attacked Rizzo and took her earrings. He said he was high and thought Rizzo had money. It wasn’t about sex. He had a girlfriend, Younes said.

At one point during the interview, Younes started laughing about his girlfriend’s reaction when she saw the Hawk Alert and its description of him and his jacket. He told her it wasn’t him, but he told police he didn’t know what she believed.

Younes then admitted to putting his hands on Rizzo’s neck and choking her.

Mallory asked Younes if he wanted to say anything to Rizzo and Younes wrote a statement, apologizing for attacking Rizzo and saying he hoped she could forgive him. Younes also said he wasn’t in the “right state of mind.”

In other testimony, Younes’ friend, Abens Altidor, said Younes told him on Snapchat that he wanted to run away to Mexico in March 2022. Later, Younes told him in person that he wanted to kill someone and run away to Mexico.

Expert: Strangulation can cause death within seconds

Katy Rasmussen, a pediatric sexual assault nurse examiner with UnityPoint-St. Luke’s Child Protection Center and coordinator of the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team, testified about strangulation, which can cause serious damage or even death, depending on how much pressure is applied and for how long.

Depending on where, how much and how long pressure is applied, is the only difference between fatal and non-fatal injuries, Rasmussen said. Unconsciousness can happen in less than 10 seconds and prolonged pressure to the carotid artery can cause death within seconds.

Sometimes, there is lack of visible injuries after being strangled but there can be delayed effects for someone, such as airway swelling, difficulty breathing, swelling of the trachea, and injuries to blood vessels in the neck. Some of those can impact blood flow leading to more serious issues such as brain damage, stroke or heart issues.

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