Cedar Rapids man accused of strangling wife will stand trial in September

A Cedar Rapids man accused of strangling and killing his wife last month pleaded not guilty Wednesday and his trial is set for Sept. 8 in Linn County District Court.

Shawn Crowley, 43, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder. He is accused of strangling Chantele Crowley, 39, in her mobile home June 30. An autopsy confirmed Chantele Crowley died from strangulation.

According to a criminal complaint, investigators found a cellphone charging cord near the woman's body, after receiving a request from family to conduct a welfare check. Shawn Crowley allegedly admitted to several witnesses that he killed his wife before turning himself in to police later that night. He and his wife lived in the mobile home at the time of the incident.

Petitions for protective orders filed by Chantele Crowley in Linn County District Court told of a pattern of stalking, physical abuse and harassment by Shawn Crowley. She had asked the court for multiple protective orders since 2009, with the latest petition being filed in May. Chantele had left Shawn in May and accused him of stalking her and her friends, and slashing her tires.

According to the petitions, the couple would often split up and then reunite.

Shawn Crowley remains in the Linn County Jail on a $1 million bond.