Trish Mehaffey

Tramontez Lockett, 18, of Cedar Rapids, will be the third teen to plead in the fatal shooting of Michael McCune, 16, of Cedar Rapids, on Feb. 18, 2023. His plea hearing is set for next week.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks shared year-end stats for 2024, which showed significant decreases in violent and serious crimes. The five felony prosecutors also successfully prosecuted 10 homicides last year and have more on their plates this year, as their caseloads continue to top the national average per attorney.

Iowans are summoned each year to serve on juries in the county where they live, but how is someone selected to fulfill this civic duty? And how often will they have to serve? These are questions court clerks receive every day.

Trials will go forward for a Hiawatha man and a Cedar Rapids woman accused of bringing a minor from Dubuque to Cedar Rapids in May and forcing her into prostitution.

The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld the three first-degree murder convictions for Alexander Jackson, who killed his parents and teen sister in 2021. The court denied his arguments, saying there was “overwhelming” evidence to convict.

An Iowa City man faces up to 20 years in prison for the armed robbery of a Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust branch in Jaruary 2024. Tellers gave him marked bills after he pointed a gun at them. He also was indicted on federal charges, some stemming from the state court case.

A Cedar Rapids man pleaded to child endangerment charges for breaking his infant son’s ribs, legs and holding his throat, preventing him from breathing because the child wouldn’t stop crying. He admitted to police multiple acts of physical abuse. He faces up to 35 years in prison.

Baynon Berry, now 17, pleads to second-degree murder for fatally shooting Michael McCune, 16, on Feb. 18, 2023 in northwest Cedar Rapids. He conspired with three others to kill McCune over past rival gang and state training school conflicts, prosecutors said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office Northern District had nearly twice as many trials in 2024 and is ranked second for cases filed among the other 25 federal districts of its size. The district includes Cedar Rapids, Dubuque, Fort Dodge and Sioux City.

Dr. Melissa Blessing started as the Johnson County deputy medical examiner last month. She feels its a “privilege” to do the work and be able to explain to families how their loved ones died. The UI pathology department and county medical examiner department have both been on her radar since her residency at Mayo School of Graduate Education in Rochester, Minn.

A judge on Friday sentenced McKinley Louisma to life in prison without parole for the kidnapping, torture and strangulation of Melody Hoffman, 20, of Marion, on Feb. 17. Melody’s mother said her daughter would want her to forgive Louisma but she couldn’t.

A Center Point man crossing Highway 965 in North Liberty on foot was struck by a pickup truck on Tuesday. Police said he had life threatening injuries and was taken to University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

A 16-year-old who shot a 17-year-old last year during a basketball game in Marion will be sent to the State Training School in Eldora until he turns 18. A judge will then decide whether to release him or sentence him to probation or prison to serve remainder of term.

A Cedar Rapids landlord found his first-floor tenant, Dorothy J. Rose, 43, lying face down in her apartment on Nov. 28, 2006. Police found Rose had been strangled with an electrical cord and another item. The murder remains unsolved but is being reviewed again by cold case investigators.

A judge, in two separate pretrial hearings Friday, said trials for Huston Danker and Karina Cooper, both accused of killing Cooper’s husband in 2021, will go forward. Danker will be tried Jan. 21 in Johnson County and Cooper on Feb. 25 in Linn County.