Authorities identify man and woman found dead at Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area

PALO — Investigators have identified the 31-year-old man and 27-year-old woman whose bodies were found Friday at the Pleasant Creek State Recreation Area north of Palo.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation on Wednesday identified the two as Cody Michael Rhodes and Courtney Lynn Rhodes. Their bodies were found inside a parked vehicle at 10:45 p.m.

DCI Special Agent in Charge Rick Rahn told The Gazette investigators are still working to confirm the relationship between the two.

But an obituary posted by the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown stated the two were married and had two children.

The obituary said the couple lived in Gladbrook — a Tama County city of 900 about 75 miles northwest of Cedar Rapids — though Rahn said investigators are still working to confirm exactly where.

Autopsies were performed over the weekend. The results are pending, and the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety

According to the obituary, Courtney Rhodes was born in Great Bend, Kan., and was a homemaker.

“She will forever be endeared and remembered as a loving mother with an outgoing personality who loved doing silly things and a person who had a great sense of humor,” the obituary states. “She enjoyed collecting things, going to concerts, dancing and shopping.”

Cody Rhodes, according to his obituary, was born in Marshalltown, enjoyed working on cars and small engines “and loved music and spending time with his wife, Courtney,” and his three cousins.

Service arrangements are pending. .

An Iowa Department of Natural Resources park ranger found the Rhodes inside a car parked in the first lot on the north side of the dam, while conducting a routine patrol after the park had closed at 10:30 p.m., authorities said.

The park remains open, and authorities believe the deaths are an isolated incident presenting no danger to the public.

The DCI said the investigation is ongoing and more information will be released as it becomes available.

Comments: (319) 398-8238; kat.russell@thegazette.com.