Bibler Found Guilty Of Second Degree Murder Of Killing His Sister
(Le Mars) — After more than two and a half years after the incident, Thomas Bibler of Le Mars was found guilty Friday of murder in the second degree of killing his sister Shannon Bogh. The incident occurred on June 11, 2016 when Bibler had stabbed his sister. Judge Jeff Neary handed down the verdict Friday morning at the Plymouth County District Courthouse. Bibler, age 36, was found not guilty of willful injury and not guilty of going armed with intent.
Judge Neary explained that the presented evidence did not conclude to a charge of first degree murder.
Bibler’s defense stated he didn’t recall the specific incident from that June summer evening of 2016 because he had taken the drug Ambian, which is a sleeping aid, and in some cases, causes people to suffer a temporary memory loss. Neary believes that Bibler did kill his sister, and explains why it fell under a second degree murder charge.
Neary continues to explain his reasons for the verdict.
While Judge Neary read the verdicts, Bibler sat still, next to his defense attorney, and did not show any emotion. Likewise, family members of Shannon Bogh, including her husband Phil, also displayed no emotion. Sentencing for Bibler is scheduled for February 22nd at 1:00 p.m. at the Plymouth County District Courthouse. Second degree murder carries a maximum sentence of 50 years.
Vakulskas Welcomed To Plymouth County Courthouse
(Le Mars) — Plymouth County District Court officially welcomed its newest judge during an investiture ceremony held Friday afternoon at the Plymouth County Courthouse. Judge Daniel Vakulskas of Sioux City will now take over for the retiring Robert Dull, as an Associate District Judge. Several judges from northwest Iowa, as well as Nebraska were in attendance for the
ceremony. Judge Vakulskas had his sister, Molly, and his brother, Brian both who are attorneys speak at the program. Both used the opportunity to “roast” their brother with humorous stories, mainly about thier upbringing.
They jokingly asked the other District Judges if they may have made a mistake by naming Daniel as the new Associate Judge? Daniel Vakulskas took the oath of office which was administered by Judge Patrick Tott, and Vakulskas’ wife, Nikki helped don the robe on the new Associate judge.
Reynolds Takes Oath Of Office During Inauguration Ceremonies
(Des Moines) — Governor Kim Reynolds took the oath of office
Friday morning, marking the first female governor of Iowa elected to office.
During her inaugural address, Reynolds says her goal over the next four years will be to both “preserve” the state’s small town values — and “ignite” a renaissance in rural areas the will keep young people here.
During her Inaugural Address this morning — Reynolds described Iowa as “one big small town.”
Reynolds warned social media is making too many Americans — and Iowans — feel “powerless.” She asked Iowans to set aside their smart phones and devote less time to political arguments online.
Iowa Has The Nation’s Lowest Unemployment Rate
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Iowa’s unemployment rate remained at a national low of 2.4 percent in December.
Iowa Workforce Development reported Friday that the rate didn’t
change as the number of unemployed resident remained at an estimated 40,600.
The number of residents with jobs rose slightly to 1,651,300.
Iowa’s rate compared to the national December rate of 3.9 percent.
Iowa had the nation’s lowest unemployment rate, ahead of the 2.5 percent rates in Hawaii and New Hampshire.
It was the third straight month that Iowa had a 2.4 percent rate.
New York Democratic Senator Gillibrand Testing The Iowa Political Waters
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) – New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is meeting Iowa Democrats on her first foray into the early presidential testing ground, and defending her role in bringing down former Sen. Al Franken.
Gillibrand continues her first trip Saturday to the leadoff caucus
state since announcing the formation of an exploratory committee to seek the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination.
On Friday, she met with voters in Sioux City, including activists
who asked her about role as the first Democrat to publicly call for Franken’s ouster. The Minnesota Democrat resigned amid allegations he had groped several women.
Gillibrand said she had “to stand up for what’s right, especially
when it’s hard.”
Gillibrand was traveling from western to central Iowa, with various stops.
Parents Of Adopted Daughter That Was Starved To Death Faces Life In Prison
ADEL, Iowa (AP) – An Iowa couple convicted in the starvation death of their 16-year-old adopted daughter will likely spend the rest of their lives in prison.
A judge Friday sentenced 41-year-old Misty Jo Bousman Ray to a life sentence without the possibility of parole and her husband, 43-year-old Marc Ray, to 80 years in prison.
They were arrested following the May 2017 death of Sabrina Ray, who weighed only 56 pounds when she died.
Misty Jo Bousman Ray pleaded guilty Jan. 9 to one count of first-
degree kidnapping and two counts of third-degree kidnapping involving two other adopted children who lived at her Perry home.
Marc Ray, pleaded guilty last month to child endangerment causing death and three counts of third-degree kidnapping.
Misty Jo Bousman Ray apologized, saying “all of this is my fault.”
Winter Storm Hits North Central Iowa
(Undated) — Le Mars may have been fortunate to have missed the heavy snowfall that was predicted to occur yesterday. However many parts of Iowa, and especially north-central and northeastern Iowa were not as fortunate.
The Iowa Department of Transportation says road conditions deteriorated in northern Iowa as a winter storm swept the Midwest for a second straight weekend.
The department says visibility is below a half mile in many
locations, with snow and winds of up to 20 mph hitting areas like Mason City and Clear Lake. Motorists are being warned to use extra caution on roads.
The National Weather Service had issued a winter storm warning for Friday afternoon into Saturday for all of eastern Iowa, with high winds and snow up to 8 inches in northeastern Iowa. Some cities have declared snow emergencies because of the storm, and some school events were postponed or canceled.
Prisoner Tried To Have Witnesses Killed To Prevent Them From Testifying
MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) – An eastern Iowa man who tried to organize the killings of witnesses from behind bars so they couldn’t testify against him has been sentenced to at least 50 years in prison.
The Muscatine Journal reports that 38-year-old old Justin Lee DeWitt was sentenced Friday in Muscatine County District Court for three counts of attempted murder. His sentence is to be served after a 35-year sentence he’s already serving in a separate case.
Dewitt was an inmate at the Muscatine County Jail after being
arrested in Johnson County for trying to coordinate the murders of four people, including two children. Prosecutors say that while he was incarcerated, Dewitt tried to coordinate the murders of three witnesses from his Johnson County case so they couldn’t testify.
Authorities say Dewitt spoke twice to someone he thought had a
connection to a contract killer, but the contact was really an undercover officer.
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