Opening Testimony Given At Bibler Murder Trial
(Le Mars) — Opening testimony was given this morning at the Plymouth County Courthouse for the start of the Thomas Bibler trial. Bibler is accused of fatally stabbing his sister back in June of 2016. The prosecutor’s first witness was Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy, Sergeant Rick Singer. Singer was the first to arrive at the scene following the emergency 9-1-1 call.
Singer testified that upon arriving at the scene he immediately began first aid procedures for the victim, Shannon Bogh. The Plymouth County Sheriff’s Deputy says he saw some blood on the door handle and at the entry way to the house. The second witness to testify was the victim’s husband.
Phil Bogh said during the day of the stabbing incident he and his wife had just returned home after having a dinner at a local restaurant. Phil Bogh said on the witness stand that the suspect, Thomas Bibler, arrived at the Bogh home shortly after they
had gotten home. Bogh says his wife went outdoors with the youngest child to check flowers in the garden, while Phil Bogh says he walked to the mailbox. Phil Bogh says he noticed Bibler was talking to Shannon Bogh, who is his sister. Bogh says there
wasn’t anything unusual about Bibler’s visit, as he would frequently stop by the Bogh residence to visit with Shannon Bogh. Phil Bogh says he doesn’t recall any shouting or loud sounds from either Shannon Bogh or from Thomas Bibler. Bogh says moments later he heard his wife cry out: “Oh my
God! Oh my God!”
He says he turned to see his wife reach for her chest with both hands. Meanwhile, Bogh says he noticed Thomas Bibler walk briskly past him to Bibler’s pickup truck and left the scene. He says he noticed Bibler use two hands to fold a pocket knife placing the blade inside the handle. Upon cross examination, the defense attorney team questioned Bogh about an inheritance that he and his wife had acquired from Shannon’s deceased father. The defense attorney also asked Bogh who was the benefactor of life insurance policies on Shannon’s life?
The trial is a bench trial, therefore there isn’t any jury to deliberate the verdict. Judge Jeff Neary is overseeing the court’s proceedings.
Floyd Valley Healthcare Announces New Program With Sioux City Musketeers Hockey Team
(Le Mars) — Floyd Valley Healthcare held a news conference this morning to announce a new pediatric program in partnership with the Sioux City Musketeers hockey team. Ann Cole-Nelson with Floyd Valley explains the program of the Floyd Valley “Hotshots”.
Man Is Ran Over By Train In Sioux City
(Sioux City) — A man was killed last night after being hit by a train in downtown Sioux City. Sioux City Police responded to the 200 block of Pierce Street just after 11:00 p.m. for a report of a man crawling underneath a stopped train. The train began to move while the man was still underneath. The male was located and pronounced dead at the scene when paramedics arrived. His identity is being withheld at this time, pending family notification. The Sioux City Police are continuing their investigation.
Body Recovered From Upper Iowa River
DECORAH, Iowa (AP) – Authorities say a body recovered from the Upper Iowa River in northeast Iowa was that of a Florida woman.
The Iowa Natural Resources Department says kayakers found the body Sunday near the shoreline, northwest of Decorah. Attempts to resuscitate her failed.
The department identified her as 65-year-old Susan Fechhelm, who lived in St. Petersburg, Florida. She’d been wearing a life jacket while alone in a kayak, but the life jacket had partially come off. The department says no one saw her kayak capsize.
An autopsy is scheduled.
Man Dies From Falling Off Moving Train
PRINCETON, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa sheriff says a man whose body was found near tracks died after falling or jumping off a moving train.
The body was found near Princeton in Scott County early Friday.
Scott County Sheriff Tim Lane said Monday that 29-year-old Robert Lamb, of LeClaire, had been drinking and likely was involved in what’s been called train jumping or train hopping. Lane says the perilous activity has been
glorified in social media videos.
He says people should stay away from trains, noting their speed is hard to judge because they’re so large.
Search Continues For Missing University of Iowa Female Student
BROOKLYN, Iowa (AP) – State and federal agents are investigating the disappearance of a 20-year-old University of Iowa student who has been missing for nearly a week in eastern Iowa.
KCRG TV reports that Mollie Tibbetts was staying at her boyfriend’s home in Brooklyn last week, watching his dogs while he was out of town for work. A neighbor reported seeing Tibbetts jogging Wednesday evening. She was reported missing Thursday.
Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said Tuesday that FBI and state investigators are concentrating on areas around Brooklyn where Tibbetts has been in the past. He says volunteer searches have been called off.
Mortvedt says the FBI also is using computer forensics, including
Tibbetts’ online history and cellphone app usage, to help pinpoint where she might be.
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Nursing Home Fined For Senior Abuse and Neglect
BUFFALO CENTER, Iowa (AP) – The state has proposed fining a northern Iowa nursing home nearly $30,000, in part over the treatment of an 87-year-old woman who officials say was in pain and may not have had water several days before her death.
The Iowa Inspections and Appeals Department hasn’t imposed the fine yet against Timely Mission Nursing Home in Buffalo Center so the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services could take over the case. The Des Moines Register reports that no state or federal fine has yet been imposed relating
to the Feb. 27 death of Virginia Olthoff, the treatment of another patient who died the same day and the assessment of a woman diagnosed with a colon inflammation.
Trinity Mission is run by a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation headed by President Lorie Bierle and Vice President Larry Weaver. Neither immediately returned calls Tuesday by The Associated Press.
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