Iowa Crime Media

Directions Website

Iowa Crime Media Covering crime stories from across Iowa. We follow cases and provide updates to keep our communities informed.
(1)

Follow Iowa Crime Media for real cases and Iowa-focused crime news.

10/19/2026

🚨 IOWA SCHOOL VAN DRIVER ACCUSED OF WATCHING BASEBALL WHILE TRANSPORTING 7 STUDENTS! ⚾🚐

A southwest Iowa man is facing SEVEN counts of child endangerment after authorities say he watched a baseball game on his cellphone while driving students to and from a volleyball match.

📍 Lenox / Diagonal, Iowa

👤 Accused: Jesse Cox

⚖️ Charges: 7 counts of child endangerment

📅 Arrested: October 13, 2026

Investigators allege Cox watched baseball during BOTH the approximately two-hour trip to the game and the return trip.

He was released on bond the same day he was arrested.

⚠️ The allegations have not been proven in court.

👀 IOWA PARENTS, LET'S TALK!

If you found out your child's school van driver was watching baseball while transporting students, what would you expect the school district to do?

👇 Drop your thoughts below!

10/19/2026

🚨 DES MOINES STABBING — TWO PEOPLE FLEE SCENE! 🚨

A man was stabbed following an altercation inside a home in the 3300 block of Fourth Street in Des Moines.

Police say the victim was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

⚠️ The suspected attacker and another individual reportedly fled before officers arrived.

Investigators have not publicly identified a suspect, and no arrest has been confirmed.

👀 IOWA, WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED INSIDE THAT HOME?

Do you believe this was a dispute between people who knew each other, or could there be more to the story?

👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments!

10/16/2026

🚨 IOWA, LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS PIT MANEUVER. 🚨

Two people are dead following Wednesday night's police pursuit in Des Moines, and the decision to use a PIT maneuver is sparking a serious debate.

Police say the driver fled, resisted an officer, and drove the wrong way on Fleur Drive at dangerous speeds.

Officers were authorized to perform a PIT maneuver. The SUV crashed on Bell Avenue, and both occupants were ejected and died.

⚖️ HERE'S THE DEBATE:

🔴 SIDE A: Police made the right call. A driver traveling the wrong way at high speed was putting innocent people in danger.

⚪ SIDE B: Police should have backed off and tried to locate the driver later rather than risk a deadly crash.

And there's another important question: What about the passenger who lost her life?

👇 IOWA, I WANT YOUR OPINION.

Was the PIT maneuver justified? Should officers have handled this differently? What would you change about police pursuit policies?

I want to hear both sides. Respectful disagreements are welcome.

10/15/2026

🚨 MISSING 15-YEAR-OLD FOUND INSIDE SCRANTON HOME — WOMAN ARRESTED 🚨

SCRANTON, IOWA — A 26-year-old Greene County woman is facing charges after sheriff's deputies discovered a missing 15-year-old inside her residence on October 13, 2026.

Authorities say the juvenile attempted to flee when deputies arrived with a search warrant but was located several blocks away.

Alyssa Bergantzel, 26, was arrested and charged with harboring a runaway and accessory after the fact.

Investigators also seized suspected ma*****na and mushrooms from the residence.

⚠️ The sheriff's office says separate s*xual assault allegations remain under investigation. No s*xual assault charges against Bergantzel have been announced.

💬 What are your thoughts on this investigation?

All charges are allegations unless proven in court.

10/15/2026

🚨 FORMER WEST DES MOINES GYMNASTICS COACH SENTENCED TO 90 YEARS IN FEDERAL PRISON 🚨

Sean Gardner, 39, a former coach at Chow's Gymnastics in West Des Moines, was sentenced Wednesday, October 14, 2026, to 90 years in federal prison.

Federal investigators determined Gardner secretly recorded at least 10 underage gymnasts inside a bathroom at a Mississippi gymnastics facility between 2017 and 2018.

Gardner pleaded guilty to three counts of producing child s*xual abuse material.

⚖️ Sentence: Three consecutive 30-year federal prison terms.

Gardner coached in West Des Moines from 2018 to 2022. Separate allegations involving former Iowa gymnasts have also surfaced, although no criminal charges have been announced in connection with those Iowa allegations.

💬 Do you believe a 90-year sentence is appropriate for crimes involving the exploitation of children?

10/15/2026

🚨 TWO DEAD AFTER DES MOINES POLICE PURSUIT ENDS IN CRASH 🚨

Two people were killed Wednesday night, October 14th, after a police chase ended with a PIT maneuver and a deadly crash on Des Moines' south side.

According to police, the pursuit began after a traffic stop near Stanton and McKinley Avenue around 10:30 p.m.

Authorities say the 38-year-old driver fled, eventually traveling the wrong direction on Fleur Drive at a high rate of speed.

Officers performed a PIT maneuver, and the vehicle crashed in the 2500 block of Bell Avenue.

Both occupants were ejected.

🔴 The 38-year-old driver died at the scene.

🔴 His 31-year-old female passenger later died at a hospital.

Police reported that neither occupant was wearing a seat belt. Their identities have not yet been released.

💬 Should police use PIT maneuvers during high-speed pursuits, or do the risks outweigh the benefits?

The incident remains under investigation.

10/14/2026

🚨 70-YEAR-OLD FORT DODGE MAN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MURDER 🚨

Wade Alan Nehman, 70, is accused of shooting another man in the abdomen following a physical altercation at Lizard Creek Ranch in rural Webster County on October 7, 2026.

According to court documents, Nehman allegedly retrieved a handgun after the altercation and returned to shoot the victim.

Investigators also allege Nehman admitted he intended to kill the man.

⚖️ Charges:
• Attempted murder
• Felon in possession of a fi***rm

The victim was transported to a hospital with serious injuries.

Nehman is reportedly being held without bond at the Webster County Jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 19th.

💬 What are your thoughts on this case?

All charges are allegations unless proven in court.

10/13/2026

🚨 19-YEAR-OLD WOMAN CHARGED IN COURT AVENUE STABBING IN DES MOINES 🚨

Liliana Morris, 19, is accused of stabbing another woman at least three times during an argument on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines on Sunday, October 11th.

According to court documents, the victim was attempting to leave in a vehicle when the stabbing occurred.

⚖️ Morris faces willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Morris has been granted pretrial release, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for November 2nd, 2026.

💬 With another violent incident on Court Avenue, do you feel downtown Des Moines is becoming less safe?

All charges are allegations unless proven in court.

10/12/2026

🚨 LECLAIRE MAN ARRESTED AFTER INVESTIGATORS REPORT FINDING OVER 100 CHILD ABUSE VIDEOS 🚨

Austin Howland Dana, 30, of LeClaire, Iowa, was arrested October 9th following a search warrant executed on October 2nd.

According to court documents, investigators reportedly discovered more than 100 videos depicting child s*xual abuse, including material involving infants and toddlers.

Police also reportedly uncovered disturbing messages discussing drugging children and a proposed $6,000 payment for producing abusive material involving a child.

⚖️ Dana faces 10 counts of purchase or possession of a depiction of a minor in a s*x act.

Authorities have not established that the alleged plans discussed in those messages were carried out.

The investigation remains ongoing. All charges are allegations unless proven in court.

10/12/2026

🚨 16-YEAR-OLD KILLED IN WATERLOO SHOOTING — ANOTHER TEEN ARRESTED 🚨

Waterloo Police have identified Lamontrece Deshaun Jordan, 16, as the victim of a deadly shooting Thursday, October 8th, near West Third and Baltimore Streets.

Jordan was rushed to a hospital, where he later died.

Police detained Jose Kweli Martinez, 16, that same evening.

According to court documents, Martinez allegedly admitted firing a gun toward the victim after a confrontation involving bricks being thrown at his vehicle.

⚖️ Martinez faces two felony weapons-related charges. No murder charge has been announced.

The homicide investigation remains ongoing.

💬 Two teenagers, both just 16 years old. What needs to change to stop youth gun violence in Iowa?

All charges are allegations unless proven in court.

Address

Everywhere
Des Moines, IA
50310

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Iowa Crime Media posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category