Marion man held on $4M bail after 3 killed with metal pipe

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Marion man is accused of bludgeoning four people with a metal pipe — killing three and severely injuring one — motivated in part by thinking the murders would become a movie, authorities said Thursday.

Luke Wade Truesdell, 34, was charged during an initial appearance with three counts of first-degree murder and one charge of attempted murder. He appeared by video from jail for the hearing.

Sixth Judicial District Associate Judge Nicholas Scott ordered a $4 million cash-only bail for Truesdell pending his trial. A public defender was appointed to represent him.

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Linn County sheriff’s deputies responded just before 4 p.m. Wednesday to 3699 East Otter Road near Marion after a witness discovered four individuals with bleeding head wounds in the outbuilding on the property, according to a criminal complaint.

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Deputies and other first responders found Keonna Victoria Ryan, 26, and Romondus Lamar Cooper, 44, both of Cedar Rapids, and Amanda Sue Parker, 33, of Vinton, all with blunt force injuries to the head and other injuries to the body.

Another man, Brent Anthony Brown, 34, also was found unresponsive but alive with a blunt force wound to his head and neck, the complaint stated. He was taken by helicopter to the hospital and remained in critical condition Thursday.

Brown’s father, Lon Brown, told The Gazette that he owns the property and outbuilding where the slayings happened. He declined to say more, saying he doesn’t want to interfere with the investigation.

The father said his son isn’t doing well and had received tests results indicating he had no brain activity. Other family members of the victims contacted weren’t immediately available or declined to comment.

Truesdell was found at the scene and admitted to deputies that he hit the four with a metal pipe, the complaint shows. The pipe, with blood and hair on it, was collected by investigators.

According to the complaint, video surveillance captured images of Truesdell in the area of the outbuilding.

Truesdell admitted to “several motives, including that a movie would be made about the killings,” the complaint stated.

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Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner declined Thursday to elaborate any more on what investigators had found the motives to be or the relationship between the five. The criminal complaint doesn’t give more details, either, or say how one man could have beaten all four.

Both Gardner and Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks said no further details would be released yet because of the ongoing investigation.

The sheriff’s office was assisted on scene Wednesday by the Iowa State Patrol, the Robins Police Department, the Hiawatha Fire and Ambulance, Center Point Ambulance and the Alburnett Fire Department.

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com

Emily Andersen of The Gazette contributed to this report.