Evander Ellis-Iowa man pleads not guilty to killing four people with a metal pipe earlier this month

2025-04-28 19:48:22source:Slabu Exchangecategory:Markets

CEDAR RAPIDS,Evander Ellis Iowa (AP) — The Iowa man accused of killing four people with a metal pipe earlier this month has filed a written plea of not guilty to murder charges.

Luke Wade Truesdell, 34, filed his not guilty plea Tuesday to four counts of first-degree murder. A judge ordered him to return to court next Tuesday for an arraignment. No one answered at the Linn County public defender’s office Wednesday on the Juneteenth holiday.

The Linn County Sheriff’s Department has said that Truesdell, of Marion, attacked four people with a metal pipe on June 5 in an outbuilding at a rural Iowa home near Cedar Rapids. Three people died at the home. The fourth person, 34-year-old Brent Anthony Brown, died two days later.

The other victims have been identified as 44-year-old Romondus Lamar Cooper of Cedar Rapids, 26-year-old Keonna Victoria Ryan of Cedar Rapids and 33-year-old Amanda Sue Parker of Vinton.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner has said that among the possible motives was that the crime might be made into a movie, but he didn’t elaborate and the sheriff and Linn County prosecutor haven’t been answering questions about the investigation.

RELATED COVERAGE Here’s where courts are slowing Republican efforts for a state role in enforcing immigration lawA judge temporarily blocks Iowa law that allows authorities to charge people facing deportationRyan Blaney wins inaugural NASCAR Cup Series race at Iowa Speedway

The building where the victims were found is owned by Brown’s father. A friend of Parker’s, Amber Sangalli, told The Gazette in Cedar Rapids that Parker and her boyfriend, Cooper, had been evicted from their home last summer and started living in the outbuilding two months later. Brown was in a relationship with Ryan, according to his obituary.

Sangalli said she didn’t know of any connection between Truesdell and the victims.

More:Markets

Recommend

A South Texas lawmaker’s 15

MCALLEN, Texas (AP) — The Texas Legislature can be full of surprises.But for the last eight sessions

Review: In concert film ‘Renaissance,’ Beyoncé offers glimpse into personal life during world tour

LOS ANGELES (AP) — In Beyoncé’s concert film, she described her recent Renaissance World Tour as bei

Shane MacGowan, The Pogues 'Fairytale of New York' singer, dies at 65

Irish musician Shane MacGowan, who formed the influential punk band The Pogues, best known for '80s