Articles Tagged: Murder

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.

A judge, following a bench trial in July, found an Iowa City man, who attempted to die by suicide by hitting another car in 2019, guilty of second-degree murder of a Texas man and other charges.

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.

Trial for Cedar Rapids man accused of fatally beating his 71-year-old mother has been reset again to March 1.

Judge says he’ll likely allow Drew Blahnik, convicted of killing Chris Bagley, to change his name to Johnny Blahnik Church until after Blahnik is sentenced Oct. 12 in the fatal stabbing of Bagley in December 2018. Blahnik wants the name change to further his acting career, even though he faces up to 54 years in prison.

A judge ruled in favor of an Indiana man who asked the court not to combine his harassment case with his first-degree murder case. Prosecutors argued the harassment charge shows a motive for fatally shooting Tommy Curry, who was allegedly lured to his death by a “date,” n April 28.

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.

Cedar Rapids man, who confessed to killing Dexter Meeks and trying to kill his brother in 2011, provided a false confession. He was in the Clinton County Jail at the time.

Gregory Allen Showalter, 61, of Ottumwa, turned himself in at the Wapello County Law Enforcement Center on Tuesday morning in the death of 60-year-old Elizabeth Showalter, also of Ottumwa.

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.

Drew Blahnik was convicted of the lesser charge of second-degree murder and two other charges in the fatal stabbing of Chris Bagley in 2018. He faces up to 54 years in prison.

After nearly three days of deliberations, the jury has reached a verdict in Drew Blahnik’s murder trial in the death of Chris Bagley.

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.

No verdict reached after two days of jury deliberations in Drew Blahnik trial. The Linn County jury will continue Thursday. Blahnik is accused of killing Chris Bagley in 2018.