DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – Investigators are asking for victims or anyone with information to come forward after a 61-year-old man from Des Moines was arrested on Wednesday. Investigators say Jeffrey Walter Gray, who owned and operated Wicked Imagery in the Des Moines Area, used minors to produce child sexual abuse material from 2005 to least 2016. They say the material included images from hidden cameras placed in the changing rooms at Wicked Imagery to capture videos and images of minor children undressing. Investigators reportedly recovered a hard drive from Gray’s residence in November 2023 which was later determined to contain child sexual abuse material. Officials say they have identified approximately 15 minor victims depicted in child sexual abuse material from his residence. Gray was charged with Sexual Exploitation of a Child (and Attempted Sexual Exploitation of a Child) as well as Possession of Child Pornography.
ANKENY, Iowa (KCRG) – An Iowa school teacher and softball coach has been arrested after engaging in a sexual relationship with a student when they were a teenager. Investigators say Rachel Whiteside allegedly used her role as a teacher and coach to groom the student into engaging in a sexual relationship as early as 2015 when the student was just 14 years old. Investigators say written notes, photographs, and emails kept by the teacher in her classroom verified the relationship. Whiteside was charged with 1 count of Sex Abuse in the 3rd Degree – Child Victim Coerced by Person in Authority, 4 counts of Sexual Exploitation by a School Employee, and 1 count of Lascivious Conduct with a Minor. Following her arrest, Ankeny Community School District removed Whiteside as a staff member on their website.
DES MOINES, Iowa (KCRG) – On February 28, 2024, the Iowa Board of Regents will vote on whether or not they will close three University of Iowa learning centers in Cedar Rapids, Davenport, and Bettendorf. The University of Iowa is requesting the closures, stating that “working professional students are overwhelmingly selecting online courses for their flexibility and engaging format. Offering both in-person and online has become an inefficient use of resources…” If approved, the University would close the Tippie College of Business Cedar Rapids Learning Center, the Birchwood Learning Center, and the Scott Community College Learning Center.
DUBUQUE, Iowa (KCRG) – A company that offered riverboat cruises up and down the Mississippi River, including stops in Dubuque, is shutting down and offering refunds for canceled cruises. Leaders with American Queen Voyages said they are ceasing operations and shutting down due to being unable to rebound after the COVID-19 pandemic. “The overnight cruise industry was especially affected by changes in travel preferences and, as a result, AQV has become financially unsustainable,” leaders said in an update posted to the company’s website. All future cruises have been canceled, and the company is offering full refunds for cruise deposits.
