Travis Standlee found guilty of second-degree murder

CEDAR RAPIDS - As the verdict was read, Travis Standlee folded his hands and bowed his head as if in prayer.

After being found guilty of second-degree murder, he spoke briefly with his attorneys, at times smiling.

Then, as he was led out of the Linn County District courtroom, he again folded his hands, gave a little nod to the family of his victim and bowed his head again.

Standlee, 44, was charged with first-degree murder in the Sept. 5 killing of Raymond Ursino in the parking lot at First Presbyterian Church, 310 5th St. SE in downtown Cedar Rapids. Investigators said Standlee strangled Ursino, 56.

A 12-member jury deliberated for about eight hours on Monday and Tuesday before reaching a verdict around 2 p.m. Tuesday. The lesser charge of second-degree murder means the jury determined Standlee didn't have specific intent in killing Ursino. Those factors are required for a first-degree conviction, according to Iowa law.

Standlee faces up to 50 years in prison. He must serve at least 35 years or 70 percent of the sentence before being eligible for parole.

Sixth Judicial District Chief Judge Patrick Grady said sentencing is to be set at a later date.

Standlee also faces a first-degree murder charge in the strangulation death of Sharon Mead, 41, whose body was found Sept. 11 near Coe College. That trial is set to begin in August, although a change of venue is likely, which means the trial would be moved out of Linn County. Any evidence from the recent trial is not to be allowed at the next trial.

Joanie Lacayo, Ursino's sister, said she is pleased with Tuesday's verdict.

'No one wins when a life has been taken,” she said, standing beside her son, Daniel Lacayo, following court proceedings. 'Raymond was a hard working member of the Cedar Rapids community for 25 years. His recent situation was unfortunate, but he made a difference in many people's lives and will be dearly missed by his seven sisters, six brothers, two children, six grandchildren and multiple nieces and nephews.”

According to testimony presented during the trial - which began Tuesday, May 31 - both Standlee and Ursino were homeless when they got into a fight in the early morning hours of Sept. 5. Standlee told investigators that he didn't know Ursino and didn't remember getting into a fight with him.

Prosecutors presented surveillance footage during the trial that showed the two men having several interactions downtown in the hours before Ursino was killed. One video shows the two men from a distance in the parking lot of the church. Trees obstruct the view of a fight, but both men are identifiable by hats they were wearing that night, prosecutors said.

At one point, both men end up on the ground. Standlee gets up after 28 minutes and walks off, the video shows. Ursino was found dead by a passerby later that morning, around 7 a.m.

Ursino died from manual or hand strangulation, according to a medical examiner who testified during the trial.

Ursino had several medical issues, including coronary heart disease, emphysema and being a chronic alcoholic, but those conditions didn't cause his death, said Dr. Dennis Klein, chief state medical examiner.

David Grinde, Standlee's lawyer, said in his closing there was no dispute that Standlee killed Ursino but argued he unintentionally caused his death and asked the jury to find him guilty of involuntary manslaughter. Grinde didn't call any witnesses during the trial.

Lacayo, a resident of Cedar Rapids, thanked assistant Linn County attorneys Jordan Schier and Mike Harris, along with their staff members, for 'outstanding and thorough” work on the case.

Schier declined to comment on the verdict.

Grinde said the defense respects but disagrees with the jury's verdict and plans to appeal.

'We always felt that Travis unintentionally caused the death of Mr. Ursino,” he said.

According to police records, Standlee was arrested in Ursino's death on Sept. 9, but the next day Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden said there was not enough evidence to charge him, and he asked police to continue the investigation.

Standlee was released from jail Sept. 10, and Mead was killed the next day.

According to a criminal complaint, Ursino and Mead both were strangled and had 'strikingly similar injuries.” Police found fingerprints on a can near Mead's body. Standlee was arrested Sept. 22 at a homeless shelter in Des Moines and charged in both deaths.