Trish Mehaffey

A defense expert said a Cedar Rapids police dog that couldn’t track the alleged intruder that Alexander Jackson said killed his family doesn’t mean the suspect didn’t exist. He said the dog was panting heavily, preventing him from sniffing through his nose to track anything.

Defense will start its case Friday.

Police investigators interrogated Alexander Jackson for several hours but he didn’t change his story about an intruder killing his parents and sister. The investigators believe his motive was an ultimatum from his father to get a job or move out.

Video of police interview of Alexander Jackson will be played in court Thursday.

Former crime scene investigator said two “good quality” palm prints found on murder weapon matched prints of Alexander Jackson. The position of the prints showed someone could have shot a foot.

Follow live coverage from the courtroom with Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey

Iowa Prairie Network’s annual winter seminar theme is “Prairies in a Changing Landscape” and will be held Feb. 18 in-person and virtually at Drake University.

A state medical examiner testified Tuesday that the parents and sister of accused killer Alexander Jackson each had multiple fatal injuries. His mother was shot in the head at close range, according to the autopsy.

Follow live coverage from the courtroom with Gazette Reporter Trish Mehaffey

A prosecutor, in his opening statement, said officers didn’t expect to find three family members dead when they responded to a call about a break-in on June 15, 2021.

Alexander Jackson is accused of killing his father, mother and sister June 15, 2021. He is charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Judge denies second motion to move trial out of Linn County for Chicago man accused of robbery and shooting responding sheriff’s deputy in 2021.

Alexander Jackson is charged with three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his father, mother and sister in June 2021. Testimony may start Thursday and the trial is expected to last nine days.

An Oelwein man who conspired with Chris Bagley’s killer to assault a drug informant was sentenced to 30 years for distributing meth out of his home. Court also found he sexually assaulted women.

Technology changed how newspapers and other media covered stories by providing more tools to engage readers, but also presented challenges of learning new skills.