From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
An appeals court judge has overturned the murder conviction for the man who authorities say stabbed and killed a Cedar Rapids in 2018 ago on an order from a known drug dealer. Drew Blahnik was sentenced to 52 years in prison on charges of the second degree murder of Chris Bagley, obstructing prosecution and abuse of a corpse. Since then, Blahnik has changed his name to Johnny Church and his attorneys won a ruling that says the judge abused his discretion when urging the jury to reach a verdict. The prosecution will now have to decide whether to retry the case.
Dubuque Police have identified the man shot and killed early Tuesday morning. They say 31-year-old Lonnie Burns of Dubuque got into a fight with several other people when someone pulled out a gun and shot at Burns, killing him. This all happened about 12:45 a.m. in the 700 block of Rhomberg Avenue. Police say they are reviewing traffic cameras and speaking with witnesses. There have been no arrests.
An Anamosa man involved in a fatal crash in Springville on Tuesday afternoon is now facing charges. 31-year-old Zachary Twachtmann is charged with vehicular homicide and operating while intoxicated, among other charges. The Linn County Sheriff’s Department says the crash happened about 2:30 Tuesday afternoon when Twactmann was driving on Springville Road. He lost control and swerved into the on-coming lane and hit another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle died.
Dubuque Police and Fire officials are working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office to identify someone found dead during an Iowa Street garage fire. Firefighters responded to the fire in the 1400 block of Iowa Street just after 8:15 Wednesday morning. Investigators hope anyone with information will contact Dubuque Police.
The identity of an Eastern Iowa man killed in World War II has finally been announced. The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency said today that Donald Stott of Monticello was accounted for back in March of 2021. Stott was killed in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and only recently identified through DNA analysis. A rosette will be placed next to his name on the Walls of the Missing on Honolulu. This means he is accounted for. He’ll be buried in Monticello on March 25th.
