Michael Dutcher pleaded guilty to all charges in the bludgeoning of a correctional officer and registered nurse at Anamosa State Penitentiary. He was sentenced to two life prison sentences and another 50 years for other charges.
Michael A. Dutcher’s plea and sentencing hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. at the Jones County Courthouse in Anamosa.
Michael A. Dutcher, 28, previously said he would plead the slayings were in self-defense or defense of others, but court filings this week show he plans to plead guilty to charges of first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and attempted murder.
Eleven family members gave heart wrenching victim impact statements about their loved ones — correctional officer Robert McFarland and nurse Lorena Schulte — during sentencing for Anamosa inmate, Thomas Woodard.
Live video plus tweets from reporter Trish Mehaffey, who is in Jones County District Court for the sentencing hearing of Thomas Woodard. Earlier this month, Woodard pleaded guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, and one count each of attempted murder and second-degree kidnapping for the March attacks on correctional officer Robert McFarland and prison nurse Lorena Schulte.
Anamosa inmate, Thomas Woodard, pleaded guilty to two first-degree murder charges, and one each of attempted murder and second-degree kidnapping. He faces two life sentences without chance for parole.
Thomas Allen Woodard, 39, is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree kidnapping and attempted murder.
One of the Anamosa inmates, Thomas Allen Woodard, charged in bludgeoning a correctional officer and registered nurse in March, will plead Friday in Jones County.
An Anamosa prison inmate, charged with killing a prison officer and registered nurse, will not have a bench trial next week. He waived his speedy trial right Thursday and wants its reset to a later date.
Michael Dutcher’s trial remains set for Aug. 3 in Jones County
State Auditor Rob Sand, who is considering a run for governor in 2022, was critical of the amount of funding going to the Terrace Hill fence versus Iowa’s correctional system.
The prosecution and defense agreed to move the trial to Linn County District Court.
The Iowa Department of Corrections will resume in-person visits for incarcerated individuals in early July, provided the offender is vaccinated against COVID-19.
Kris Karberg has been deputy warden at the Mike Durfee State Prison in Springfield, S.D., for three years. In his 28-year career in security, he spent 10 years providing private security overseas in Southwest Asia, Belize and Afghanistan, where he was a contractor for the U.S. State Department.
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