Standlee to be arraigned next month

CEDAR RAPIDS - The homeless man accused of strangling to death two transients this month is scheduled to be arraigned in October.

The arraignment for 44-year-old Travis Standlee, accused of two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Raymond Ursino and Sharon Mead, has been scheduled for Oct. 8. At that time, Standlee will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty to the two charges. He could file a written plea prior to that date.

Ursino, 56, was found dead on Sept. 5 in a church parking lot. The body of Mead, 41, was found near a bus stop at Coe College on Sept. 11. A criminal complaint filed in the case said they were strangled and had 'strikingly similar injuries,” but did not elaborate. A trial information filed Monday in the case did not provide any additional details.

Standlee was arrested at a homeless shelter in Des Moines on Sept. 22 for Ursino and Mead's deaths, though it was the second time he had been arrested in connection with Ursino's death. Cedar Rapids police arrested Standlee on Sept. 9. They announced the arrest on Sept. 10 and said he would face charges of involuntary manslaughter and willful injury causing serious injury. However, on Sept. 10, Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden - whose office is responsible for charging decisions - said he would not file charges against Standlee, citing a lack of evidence.

Standlee was released from the Linn County Jail on Sept. 10. Police said Mead died on or about Sept. 11. In the criminal complaint, police said surveillance video showed Standlee and Ursino fighting near where Ursino's body was found. Additionally, his finger prints were found on a can near Mead's body.

Citing the continuing investigation and pending legal case, Vander Sanden and Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman said they could not comment on the circumstances surrounding Standlee's release and his subsequent actions.

First-degree murder is a Class A felony punishable by life in prison.