From the KCRG-TV9 Newsroom:
A Linn County jury found McKinley Louisma guilty on all charges in the murder of Melody Hoffman. The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes before finding Louisma guilty of first degree murder, first degree kidnapping, and conspiracy to commit a forcible felony. Melody Hoffman was reported missing by her mother in February. Hoffman’s body was later found at Lily Lake near Amana. Testimony revealed she died from strangulation. A sentencing date has been set for December 6. Now convicted, Louisma faces an automatic life sentence. Dakota Van Patten and Logan Kimpton are both also charged in connection with Hoffman’s death. Both men have pleaded not guilty. They have not yet gone to trial.
First Congressional District candidate Christina Bohannan says she’s requesting a recount in her race against incumbent Republican Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The two have been around 800 votes apart for a week, with Miller-Meeks holding the lead. Miller-Meeks already declared victory. In a statement, Bohannan’s campaign wrote in part, “We have full trust in this process and will accept the results regardless of the outcome.” The Miller-Meeks campaign called the recount request a delaying tactic to thwart the will of the people.
One school bond vote in eastern Iowa could still face a challenge. A ballot mix-up in Washington County resulted in some people voting on the Highland School bond issue who weren’t supposed to and others who were supposed to, receiving the wrong ballots. The bond passed and was certified by county supervisors but it isn’t official until the state certifies the vote on November 19. Then, anyone in the district has until November 22 to file a petition if they think a special election is necessary.
A federal court upheld the sentence for Alfred Younes. Last year, Younes pleaded guilty to helping his son escape the country while on pre-trial release. His son was facing a felony charge of attempted murder. Younes was sentenced to five years in prison, but released on parole after serving just over five months. Ali Younes returned to the U.S. earlier this year and is in custody at the Linn County jail. His mother, Lima Younes, was also convicted for helping Ali flee the country.
