DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A man who suffered life-altering injuries after three teenagers brutally beat him and stole his car in 2013 has died. The Des Moines Register reports that 41-year-old Mike Wasike of Des Moines died Monday. The teens stopped him by walking in a formation in the middle of the road so he couldn’t maneuver around him. When Wasike exited his vehicle, one struck him on the back of the head with a handgun, causing an injury that left him unable to speak, feed himself or walk. The teens stole the car because one needed to make it home before curfew.
CENTERVILLE, IA (IRN) – A woman from Missouri has been charged with stealing nearly $2,000 from a patient in a Centerville care center. KTVO-TV reports 66-year-old Lucinda Rae Giese of Lampe, Missouri, was arrested Sunday and charged with Dependent Adult Abuse and Second Degree Theft. The patient was at the Golden Age Care Center when staff noticed suspicious activity and notified authorities. Giese is not an employee of the center, and her relationship to the victim is unknown.
IOWA CITY, IA (IRN) – Iowa City police are investigating two sexual assaults that happened Saturday morning. KGAN-TV reports the first incident happened around 2 a.m. A female student says a man offered to give her a ride back to her residence hall from downtown, but after she got into his vehicle, he sexually assaulted her. He then drove her home. At 3:30 a.m., another woman reported a man attempted to sexually assault her.
DES MOINES, IA – A West Des Moines mother convicted of starving her 16-year-old adopted daughter to death has requested a new trial. Nicole Finn submitted a hand-written motion for a new trial and new counsel last week. A jury found Finn guilty of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping in the starvation death of Natalie Finn, who weighed just 85 pounds at the time of her death. Nicole Finn claims she did not receive a fair trial
AMES, IA (IRN) – A state lawmaker charged with OWI while possessing a firearm will benefit from a law he helped change. The Des Moines Register reports Representative Chip Baltimore, a Boone Republican, was arrested last week and charged with operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and possession of a firearm while under the influence. Less than 10 months ago he voted to support legislation reducing penalties for carrying a gun while drunk.
DYERSVILLE, IA (IRN) – The Field of Dreams baseball field near Dyersville has been vandalized, according to KCRG-TV. Someone drove through the field leaving deep tracks. It was the site of the 1989 movie by the same name, starring actors Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones. Opening Day is April 1.