DUBUQUE, Iowa (WMTV/KCRG) – Around 7 p.m. Wednesday night, the Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of an unresponsive person at a home in Dubuque County, Iowa. When they reached the home, in the 9800 block of Haxbylane Road, they found a woman dead. Investigators said her death was the result of foul play. She was later identified as 32-year-old Tana Poppe. Poppe had two children, a 5-month-old baby, and a 13-year-old teenager, who were staying with her in the home where she was found. But authorities did not find either of the children there. Authorities in Iowa say they later learned that the 5-month-old baby was turned over to a random Wisconsin home. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office said their person of interest was later reported to be involved in a vehicle pursuit in Dane County, Wisconsin. They say during the chase, the fleeing vehicle was disabled and the people inside the vehicle tried to run. One of those occupants of the vehicle was the 13-year-old child Dubuque authorities had tried to find. Later, that 13-year-old was found dead. The Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office says they do not know how the teenager died. The male suspect was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside an Albion home after hours of negotiations with police. He has been identified as 38-year-old Alexander Grunke. Court records show Grunke had been charged in March with abduction and interference with child custody.
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – Testimony started on Thursday in the trial of a Cedar Rapids man charged in connection to a murder that happened 16 years ago. Curtis Padgett is charged with first-degree murder in the death of 64-year-old Dennis First. First was found dead in his apartment in the 2200 block of C St. SW on May 11, 2007. His death was investigated as a homicide at the time, but no arrests were made. Investigators said Padgett killed First by beating, then stabbing or cutting him following an argument. Cedar Rapids Police said investigators had spent more than 15 years evaluating evidence in the case, leading to the arrest and charges. At the time of the murder, Cedar Rapids Police told KCRG-TV9 that they had collected DNA evidence at the scene that they believed would lead them to the killer. Padgett waived his right to a jury trial so a judge will hear and decide the case. During opening statements yesterday morning, the state said a neighbor heard Padgett arguing with First inside his apartment on May 11, 2007. A welfare check later found First dead in the apartment, covered in blood. Prosecutors say prints and DNA evidence link Padgett to the crime, while Padgett’s attorneys say the state lacks evidence to prove their case.
BUCHANAN COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – Thursday morning, at approximately 9:45 a.m., officials with the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office received a report that an adult male had made threatening comments to a school administrator. Officials say the threat was specifically directed at the administrator and not the school, but aired on the side of caution and placed the school on lockdown. Following an investigation, 28-year-old James Toms was charged with one count of Harassment. The lockdown was lifted at approximately 10:30 a.m.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Governor Reynolds signed a new religious freedom proclamation on Wednesday. It declares April 13 as ‘Iowa Religious Freedom Day.’ Supporters from various religions gathered at the state capitol. Reynolds says the declaration is meant to celebrate and uplift Iowans’ constitutional rights. “Our liberties are more secure when religious belief is both strong and free,” Reynolds said. “When people of faith and non-religious beliefs can openly participate in public debate and when government respects our God given rights.” This comes one week after the Governor signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law.
