Tama man indicted on murder charges in parents’ machete slaying

A 25-year-old man now faces two charges of first-degree murder in the double homicide of his parents in Tama County after being indicted Thursday by a federal grand jury.

Gordon Lasley Jr. will be arraigned at noon Friday in U.S. District Court. He is accused of killing his parents, Gordon Lasley Sr. and Kim Lasley, with a machete in their home on the Meskwaki Settlement Feb. 5, according to the indictment.

According to a criminal complaint, Lasley Jr. was pulled over by Tama County Sheriff's deputies Feb. 6, in his mother's car. Lasley had blood on his hands and clothing. He also had cuts and lacerations on his left hand and scratches on his right hand.

Lasley's girlfriend told authorities she had been with Lasley and his parents in their home on the Feb. 5, but she left the home and then later received a call from Lasley, saying he killed his parents, according to the complaint.

The older brother of Lasley Jr. and his girlfriend also told authorities Lasley Jr. had confessed to the homicide. The girlfriend said Lasley Jr. had blood on him when he stopped by their house that night.

Meskwaki Nation police officers found the bodies of the parents after another son told police that Lasley Jr. also admitted to him about the homicide. Officers also located a machete lying on a couch with apparent blood on it.

If convicted, Lasley Jr. faces life in prison.