Iowa Radio News

MONTEZUMA, IA (IRN) – A suspect is in custody in connection with the death of Mollie Tibbetts. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation confirmed Tuesday during a news conference that Cristhian Bahena Rivera, 24, is charged with first-degree murder. Rivera is an undocumented immigrant. Tibbetts’ body was found in a cornfield southeast of Brooklyn. The 20-year-old was last seen jogging July 18. Investigators say Rivera saw Tibbetts running and began running alongside her. Tibbetts threatened to call police and Rivera “got mad” and “blocked” his “memory.” Surveillance video brought investigators to Rivera. When confronted, Rivera brought investigators to Tibbetts’ body. Rivera is being held on a $1 million cash bond. WATERLOO, IA (IRN) – A woman faces two counts of murder for her role in a deadly Waterloo house fire, according to KCRG-TV. Waterloo Police arrested 41-year-old Denise Susanna O’Brien Monday. She is charged with two counts of first degree murder for her role in an April 22 fire. Ashley Smith, 32 and Jaykwon Sallis, 9, both died in the fire. INDEPENDENCE, IA (IRN) – A man accused of trying to smother a fellow state psychiatric hospital patient has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. KGAN-TV reports 45-year-old Terrance Rooney Jr. has been a patient at the Mental Health Institute in Independence for years and was a patient there when he pleaded guilty in 1999 to making a threat to the life of President Bill Clinton. Authorities say in the latest case Rooney tried to suffocate another patient and twisted the thumb of a staffer and threatened to kill her. OSAGE, IA (IRN) – A North Iowa woman has been charged with drunk driving and child endangerment. KIMT-TV reports Mitchell County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a call of an erratic driver forcing other vehicles off the highway. Police charged Rebecca Golden, 24 of Kensett in the incident. There were five children in the car ranging in ages from nine years old to under three. She’s in jail. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – The Iowa State Fair set a record for attendance this year. Fair officials say an estimated 1,130,260 people attended the fair that ended Sunday. That topped the previous record set in 2017 by 189 people. Attendance was a bit behind the 2017 mark but moved ahead thanks to pleasant weather over the weekend.

BETTENDORF, IA (IRN) – The Bettendorf Police Department has responded to multiple car burglaries and a car theft this week. KWQC-TV reports the vehicles were left unlocked. CLIVE, IA (IRN) – A 2-year-old boy was hospitalized after he shot himself with his father’s gun Sunday morning, according to the Des Moines Register. The boy and his family were staying at a hotel in Clive and the boy’s father left a loaded .45-caliber handgun in a piece of luggage. The boy picked up the weapon and pulled the trigger. The bullet entered his upper chest, passing through his neck and into a wall. WEBSTER COUNTY, IA (IRN) – A 52-year-old man died after losing control of his motorcycle Sunday in Webster County. Monte Dilliner of Stanhope was riding his 2002 Kawasaki when he dropped off the right hand shoulder. His motorcycle rolled and Dilliner was thrown off. He was pronounced dead at the scene. ST. LUCAS, IA (IRN) – A man was killed after a tractor he was driving in northeastern Iowa rolled over on him. KWWL-TV reports 68-year-old Linus Joseph Kuennen, of Fort Atkinson, died after his tractor rolled and he was pinned underneath it. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Nine people, mostly juveniles as young as 14, have been charged in relation to a brawl at Cedar Valley Townhomes in Cedar Rapids last week. KCRG-TV reports all are charged with rioting, and one 17-year-old also faces a charge of interference with official acts. More arrests are expected. Cell phone video and witness accounts suggest as many as 50 people may have been involved. No word on what started the fight.

DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – A Davenport woman accused of pouring rubbing alcohol on her 2-year-old disabled child and threatening to kill the toddler while live streaming the incident on social media will face charges in court next month. The Quad-City Times reports that 29-year-old Darshanda McNeal was charged after live streaming the incident on Facebook using her cellphone. The child didn’t suffer any physical injuries. ANKENY, IA (IRN) – A suspect involved in a high-speed car chase with sheriff’s deputies was taken into custody Saturday. KCCI-TV reports the chase ended in a cornfield in rural Ankeny. CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Cedar Rapids police have determined that an early morning fire at an apartment complex on Wednesday was intentionally set. KGAN-TV reports an ignitable liquid was poured in the stairwell between the first and second floors of the apartment complex and lit on fire. Three were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. Police have no suspects. DAVENPORT, IA (IRN) – The Davenport Community School District looking into outsourcing more services to save money. WQAD-TV reports Superintendent Art Tate sent a letter to department heads asking for ideas and proposals that could help the district cut costs. Tate says just about everything is on the table.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (IRN) – Two firefighters were injured and a family of four was displaced after a house caught on fire in Cedar Rapids Friday. KGAN-TV reports the fire started on the sun porch of a home and extended into the kitchen area. No one was home at the time of the fire, but the family’s cat was found dead inside. The firefighters are expected to be OK. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – A former longtime Iowa congressman has died. Former U.S. Rep. Leonard Boswell, a Democrat who represented Iowa’s 3rd District, was found unresponsive in his Decatur County home Friday. The 84-year-old was flown to the hospital after suffering of complications from cancer. Boswell served in the US Army for 20 years, serving two tours in Vietnam as a commander of a helicopter battalion. He earned two distinguished Flying Crosses, two Bronze Stars, and the Soldier’s Medal. He served in Congress from 1997 to 2013. FAYETTE COUNTY, IA (IRN) – One person is dead after a tractor rollover in Fayette County Thursday, according to KCRG-TV. Deputies found the driver of the tractor pinned underneath it. 68-year-old Linus Joseph Kuennen from Fort Atkinson was pronounced dead at the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Iowa’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped to 2.6 percent in July, tying with South Dakota for the second-lowest rate in the nation. Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the rate was an 18-year low. Hawaii had the nation’s lowest rate last month at 2.1 percent. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Attendance at the Iowa State Fair has once again topped one million people, although attendance is down slightly from last year. The Fair ends Sunday.

PLAINFIELD, IA (IRN) – One person died when his car left the roadway near Plainfield, rolled and caught fire late Thursday. The Courier reports the deceased is Arthur Penrod, 19, of rural Nashua. The crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday when Penrod was driving a Pontiac Grand Prix, entered a ditch, and struck a concrete box culvert. The Grand Prix went airborne, overturned and caught fire. Penrod died at the scene. DES MOINES, IA (IRN) – Des Moines police are investigating a stabbing that injured one person this morning, according to KCCI-TV. The victim is not cooperating with police. LA PORTE CITY, IA (IRN) – The months-long search for a missing La Porte City teenager may be over. 16-year-old Jake Wilson, who has autism, was last seen going out for a walk before he vanished April 7. Kayakers found the remains Tuesday near Wolf Creek, which was a focal point in the search. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said, “why we didn’t find him very early on, I don’t know.” OTTUMWA, IA (IRN) – A 61-year-old Ottumwa man was transported to a hospital after he was shot in the chest Thursday, according to KTVO-TV. Police have a suspect, and say the public isn’t in any danger. OXFORD JUNCTION, IA (IRN) – Six firefighters reported seeing a tornado touch down near Oxford Junction Thursday afternoon. KGAN-TV reports there was only minor damage. SIOUX CITY, IA (IRN) – The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, died of pancreatic cancer Thursday at age 76. The Des Moines Register reports her last concert in Iowa was July 4, 2015 in Sioux City. She was backed by her band and a 28-piece orchestra of local players. Attendees report it was an “awesome” performance. It’s possible Franklin felt the same. A week later she sent a bouquet of flowers to the Sioux City Journal, attached with a note of gratitude. The note said, “Thank you for your great review…Sioux City and the concert audience are the greatest. All the best, Aretha Franklin.”