Cedar Rapids, IA, USA  
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe Today
The Gazette The Gazette
The Gazette The Gazette
  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food & Drink
  • Business
Digital Edition Digital Edition
Log in Log In My Account My Account
Subscribe
CLOSE
The Gazette
Subscribe
My Account
  • News
    • All News
    • Election 2020
    • Coronavirus
    • Business News
    • Community
    • Crime and Courts
    • Education
    • Government
    • Health
    • Nation and World
    • Time Machine
    • Search Archive

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Lee Hermiston
    • Erin Jordan
    • James Q. Lynch
    • Trish Mehaffey
    • Vanessa Miller
    • Kat Russell
    • Grace King
    • John Steppe
    • Gage Miskimen
    • Marissa Payne
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Iowa Hawkeyes
    • Hawkeye Football
    • Hawkeye Basketball
    • Prep Sports
    • Prep Volleyball
    • Prep Football
    • Prep Basketball
    • Prep Wrestling
    • Iowa State Cyclones
    • UNI Panthers
    • Small College Sports
    • Minor League Sports
    • Outdoors

    Sports Desk

    • Mike Hlas
    • Jeff Johnson
    • Jeff Linder
    • J.R. Ogden
    • K.J. Pilcher
    • Leah Vann
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Editorial Mission
    • Guest Columnists
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Political Cartoons
    • Staff Columnists
    • Staff Editorials
    • Submit a Letter or Column

    Our Columnists

    • Todd Dorman
    • Adam Sullivan
  • Food and Drink
    • All Food and Drink
    • Chew on This
    • Recipes
    • Restaurants
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Business Notes
    • Companies
    • Personal Finance
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy
    • Manufacturing
    • Openings & Closures
    • Real Estate
    • Retail
    • Small Business
    • Transportation

    Our Journalists

    • Rod Boshart
    • Erin Jordan
    • John Steppe
  • Obituaries
    • All Obituaries
    • In Memory Of
    • Submit an Obituary
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • Daily News Podcast
    • Fact Checker
    • Hlastradamus Odds
    • Iowa Prep Sports
    • On Iowa
    • On Iowa Politics
    • On UNI
    • Pinning Combination
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Art
    • Books
    • Museums & Galleries
    • Music
    • Theater
    • Things To Do
  • Living
    • All Living
    • Health & Wellness
    • Home & Garden
    • Milestones
    • People & Places
    • Pets & Animals
    • Recreation
    • Religion & Belief
    • Travel

    Our Writers

    • Diana Nollen
  • Kids Gazette
    • See All
    • Kids Cooking Series
    • Kids Galleries
    • Printables
    • Activities
    • Articles
    • Submissions
    • Resources
  • Photos
    • All Photos and Videos
    • The Iowa Photo
    • Photo Store

    Our Photojournalists

    • Andy Abeyta
    • Liz Martin
    • Rebecca Miller
    • Jim Slosiarek
    • Gazette Visuals
  • Milestones
    • All Milestones
    • Anniversaries
    • Days To Remember
    • Engagements
    • Holidays
    • In Remembrance
    • New Arrivals
    • Thank Yous
    • Submit a Milestone
  • Data
    • Arrests
    • Building Permits
    • Interactive Maps & Charts
    • Salaries
  • Gazette Sites
    • Classifieds
    • Corridor Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Gazette Gives Back
    • Gazette Rewards
    • Gazette Store
    • Green Gazette
    • HER
    • Iowa Wedding Experience
    • Holiday Light Finder
    • Hoopla
    • Iowa Ideas
    • Photo Store
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
    • About The Gazette
    • Archives
    • Article Removal
    • Business Directory
    • CR Arrest Database
    • Mobile Apps
    • Customer Care
    • Order Back Issues
    • Privacy Policies
    • Puzzle Answers
    • Sponsorship Requests
    • Submit a Letter
    • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast
Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
Log out

FOLLOW US

The Gazette
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Food and Drink
  • Business
  • Obituaries
  • Podcasts
  • Entertainment
  • Living
  • Kids Gazette
  • Photos
  • Milestones
  • Data
  • Gazette Sites
  • Special Events
  • Special Sections
  • Other
  • All News
  • Election 2020
  • Coronavirus
  • Business News
  • Community
  • Crime and Courts
  • Education
  • Government
  • Health
  • Nation and World
  • Time Machine
  • Search Archive

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Lee Hermiston
  • Erin Jordan
  • James Q. Lynch
  • Trish Mehaffey
  • Vanessa Miller
  • Kat Russell
  • Grace King
  • John Steppe
  • Gage Miskimen
  • Marissa Payne
  • All Sports
  • Iowa Hawkeyes
  • Hawkeye Football
  • Hawkeye Basketball
  • Prep Sports
  • Prep Volleyball
  • Prep Football
  • Prep Basketball
  • Prep Wrestling
  • Iowa State Cyclones
  • UNI Panthers
  • Small College Sports
  • Minor League Sports
  • Outdoors

Sports Desk

  • Mike Hlas
  • Jeff Johnson
  • Jeff Linder
  • J.R. Ogden
  • K.J. Pilcher
  • Leah Vann
  • All Opinion
  • Editorial Mission
  • Guest Columnists
  • Letters to the Editor
  • Political Cartoons
  • Staff Columnists
  • Staff Editorials
  • Submit a Letter or Column

Our Columnists

  • Todd Dorman
  • Adam Sullivan
  • All Food and Drink
  • Chew on This
  • Recipes
  • Restaurants
  • All Business
  • Agriculture
  • Business Notes
  • Companies
  • Personal Finance
  • Economy
  • Employment
  • Energy
  • Manufacturing
  • Openings & Closures
  • Real Estate
  • Retail
  • Small Business
  • Transportation

Our Journalists

  • Rod Boshart
  • Erin Jordan
  • John Steppe
  • All Obituaries
  • In Memory Of
  • Submit an Obituary
  • All Podcasts
  • Daily News Podcast
  • Fact Checker
  • Hlastradamus Odds
  • Iowa Prep Sports
  • On Iowa
  • On Iowa Politics
  • On UNI
  • Pinning Combination
  • All Entertainment
  • Art
  • Books
  • Museums & Galleries
  • Music
  • Theater
  • Things To Do
  • All Living
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home & Garden
  • Milestones
  • People & Places
  • Pets & Animals
  • Recreation
  • Religion & Belief
  • Travel

Our Writers

  • Diana Nollen
  • See All
  • Kids Cooking Series
  • Kids Galleries
  • Printables
  • Activities
  • Articles
  • Submissions
  • Resources
  • All Photos and Videos
  • The Iowa Photo
  • Photo Store

Our Photojournalists

  • Andy Abeyta
  • Liz Martin
  • Rebecca Miller
  • Jim Slosiarek
  • Gazette Visuals
  • All Milestones
  • Anniversaries
  • Days To Remember
  • Engagements
  • Holidays
  • In Remembrance
  • New Arrivals
  • Thank Yous
  • Submit a Milestone
  • Arrests
  • Building Permits
  • Interactive Maps & Charts
  • Salaries
  • Classifieds
  • Corridor Careers
  • Garage Sales
  • Gazette Gives Back
  • Gazette Rewards
  • Gazette Store
  • Green Gazette
  • HER
  • Iowa Wedding Experience
  • Holiday Light Finder
  • Hoopla
  • Iowa Ideas
  • Photo Store
  • About The Gazette
  • Archives
  • Article Removal
  • Business Directory
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Mobile Apps
  • Customer Care
  • Order Back Issues
  • Privacy Policies
  • Puzzle Answers
  • Sponsorship Requests
  • Submit a Letter
  • Weather
Daily News PodcastDaily News Podcast Daily NewslettersDaily Newsletters
LOG OUT

FOLLOW US

More Stories

'A way to start over again’: Collaboration aims to replant…

24-hour COVID-19 vaccine clinic to take place this weekend

Iowa’s public works needs ignored too long, White House reports

Only previous Iowa state trooper shot to death was former…

House GOP calls for freezing funding for ‘bloated’ regents universities

Two members added to Iowa City Truth and Reconciliation Commission

Despite their discomfort, some residents beginning to agree to COVID-19…

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Home / News / Crime and Courts

Cedar Rapids woman tells of domestic abuse before her sister’s slaying

Kat RussellBy: Kat Russell Feb. 26, 2021 7:15 pm Updated: Feb. 26, 2021 7:15 pm
Cedar Rapids woman tells of domestic abuse before her sister’s slayingCedar Rapids woman tells of domestic abuse before her sister’s slayingCedar Rapids woman tells of domestic abuse before her sister’s slaying

Domestic violence had been a part of Katrina Brinson and Arnell States' marriage long before police found Brinson fatally stabbed last Saturday morning at a motel in southwest Cedar Rapids.

'He (States) turned into a completely different person after they got married,” said Jaslyne Brinson, 32, of Cedar Rapids, Brinson's younger sister.

'He became controlling, and he would get violent with her in front of the kids,” she said. 'My sister wanted to leave, but she felt trapped.”

Katrina Brinson, 34, of Cedar Rapids, and a friend - a 34-year-old woman who police have not identified - were found just before 2 a.m. Saturday in a room at the Rodeway Inn. Both women had been stabbed, police said.

Brinson later died at a hospital. Her friend was treated and released.

Cedar Rapids police responded and pursued States, 39, who was shot by an officer during an encounter. He died Tuesday at a hospital.

Police had been at the home Brinson and States shared - 1531 Washington Ave. SE - at 5 a.m. the day before and arrested both of them on domestic abuse charges when they couldn't determine who was the aggressor. The two were booked into the Linn County Jail for around 4 hours and released after the Linn County Attorney's Office declined to file charges.

When abuse started

Jaslyne Brinson said when she learned her sister had been killed and that police had a suspect, she knew the suspect was States.

'He had threatened to kill her so many times,” he said. 'He told her if she left him he would kill her, and he would kill the kids.”

Katrina Brinson and States started dating about 10 years ago, Jaslyne Brinson said.

'At first we all liked him,” she said. 'He got along well with the family, and we thought he was a good guy. They seemed like the perfect couple.”

Brinson had three children, and after she and States were together, they had three more. The children range in age from 3 to 14. The couple married in 2018.

It wasn't until about two months into the marriage that Brinson's family learned of the abuse, Jaslyne Brinson said.

'That was when she told us what was going on,” she said. 'She wanted a divorce, but she didn't want to leave her house. It's her house, and she wanted to stay there. She wanted him to leave, but he wouldn't go.”

Afraid to go home

The morning before Katrina Brinson was killed, Jaslyne Brinson said her sister and States had gotten into a violent argument after she told him she was going to leave him.

'He had been out all night, and he came home at like 5 a.m. and they got into it,” she said. Neighbors heard the fighting and called the police.

After Brinson and States were arrested and then released from jail, Jaslyne Brinson said her sister didn't want to go home.

'She was scared to go home because he was there, and she didn't want to be around him,” she said.

Instead, Katrina Brinson went to the motel where she was stabbed the next morning.

‘Couldn't breathe'

'I couldn't breathe,” Jaslyne Brinson said of the moment she learned her sister had been killed.

'I mean, I just didn't know what to do,” she said. 'I couldn't breathe, I couldn't talk, I couldn't think. I was so hurt. She had just left me, and now she's gone.”

Jaslyne Brinson said her sister was a good person with a good heart and a good soul who didn't deserve what happened to her.

'Everyone loved (Katrina),” she said. 'She was a good person with a lot of friends. She cared about people and was there for them, and she didn't get involved in drama. And now she's gone and her kids don't have a mother. It hurts.”

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

Katrina Brinson (left) and her sister, Jaslyne Brinson, are shown in a family photo. Katrina Brinson died after being stabbed at a Cedar Rapids motel last Saturday morning. Police said her husband, Arnell States, is suspected of stabbing her and another woman. He was shot by a responding police officer and died Tuesday. (Supplied photo)
Jaslyne Brinson (left) is shown with her sister, Katrina Brinson, who died after being stabbed at a Cedar Rapids motel last Saturday. (Supplied photo)
Arnell States
Kat Russell

Kat Russell

Reporter, The Gazette

Public safety reporter for The Gazette.

Police looking for victim in Kum & Go shooting in…

Cedar Rapids police to host drug take back day April…

More than 750,000 Iowans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Iowa reports 519 new COVID-19 cases, six new deaths

Fire that destroyed UnityPoint office building was not intentionally set,…

All articles by Kat

Give us feedback

We work hard to provide fair, accurate coverage because we value your trust. If you find an error or omission in our reporting, please tell us here.

Submit a story idea

Do you have a story idea that we should look into? Please tell us here.

Related Stories

Iowa City woman accused of misappropriating nearly $75,000

Iowa City woman accused of misappropriating nearly $75,000

Lee Hermiston Crime and Courts Jan. 6, 2021 7:25 am

Dubuque woman sentenced to 30 years for sex exploitation of…

Dubuque woman sentenced to 30 years for sex exploitation of…

Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Feb. 16, 2021 4:53 pm

Judge denies lowering $1 million bail for 17-year-old charged with…

Judge denies lowering $1 million bail for 17-year-old charged with…

Trish Mehaffey Crime and Courts Jan. 29, 2021 6:34 pm

Crime & Courts

Iowa City man faces life in prison for sexually abusing…

Iowa City man faces life in prison for sexually abusing…

Trish Mehaffey

Crime and Courts 3h ago

Inmate accused in prison worker killings pleads not guilty

Inmate accused in prison worker killings pleads not guilty

AP

Crime and Courts 3h ago

Police looking for victim in Kum & Go shooting in…

Police looking for victim in Kum & Go shooting in…

Kat Russell

Crime and Courts 3h ago

Cedar Rapids police to host drug take back day April…

Cedar Rapids police to host drug take back day April…

Kat Russell

Crime and Courts 4h ago

News

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

University of Iowa presidential finalist Osofsky tackles questions of free…

Vanessa Miller

Higher Ed 4m ago

More than 750,000 Iowans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

More than 750,000 Iowans are fully vaccinated against COVID-19

Kat Russell

Health Care and Medicine 2m ago

Biden wants infrastructure deal, but GOP doubts persist

Biden wants infrastructure deal, but GOP doubts persist

AP

News 21m ago

Tennessee school shooting kills 1, wounds police officer

Tennessee school shooting kills 1, wounds police officer

AP

News 22m ago

Sports

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Enyi Uwazurike taking on bigger leadership role for Iowa State

Ben Visser

Sports 27m ago

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Liam Robbins transferring from Minnesota to Vanderbilt, not Iowa

Mike Hlas

Hawkeye Basketball 4h ago

Iowa center Noah Fenske to transfer

Iowa center Noah Fenske to transfer

Hawkeye Football Apr. 12, 2021 1:58 pm

Iowa football player Josiah Miamen arrested on Sunday

Iowa football player Josiah Miamen arrested on Sunday

The Gazette

Hawkeye Football Apr. 12, 2021 1:44 pm

Opinion

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Most Iowa Republicans plan to get jabbed — so should…

Adam Sullivan

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 3:06 pm

Women in agriculture hit hard by pandemic

Women in agriculture hit hard by pandemic

Sara Todd

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 2:04 pm

How Iowa can stay in front of the next tech…

How Iowa can stay in front of the next tech…

Brent Skorup and Patricia Patnode

Opinion Apr. 12, 2021 2:03 pm

Capitol Ideas column: Iowa justices leave redistricting questions open

Capitol Ideas column: Iowa justices leave redistricting questions open

Erin Murphy

Opinion Apr. 11, 2021 11:24 pm

FOLLOW US

The Gazette is Iowa’s independent, employee-owned source for local, state, and national news coverage.

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility

Contact Us

  • 116 3rd St SE
    Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
  • customercare@thegazette.com
  • (319) 398-8333
  • Live Chat

Links

  • Puzzle Answers
  • CR Arrest Database
  • Article Removal Request
  • Archives
  • Green Gazette
  • Corridor Careers Jobs
  • Work at The Gazette
  • Customer Care

© 2021 The Gazette

All Rights Reserved.

  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy
  • Web Accessibility
Folience A Folience Company