Polk County jury convicts man of first-degree murder in killing of girlfriend
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A 43-year-old Iowa man has been convicted of first-degree murder in the beating and strangling death of his girlfriend last year in a Des Moines trailer.
A Polk County jury deliberated less than four hours Tuesday before declaring the Des Moines man guilty of killing Melissa Kay Dean when she tried to leave him.
Christopher Michael Phipps showed now emotion as the verdict was read.
No one in the week-long trial disputed that Phipps killed Dean sometime on Sept. 17-18, 2009. The dispute hinged on his level of guilt.
Prosecutors argued he was guilty of first-degree murder, which mandates a life prison sentence; his public defenders pushed for a manslaughter conviction with a lesser sentence.
After she died, prosecutors say Phipps loaded Dean's body into his pickup truck and drove her to a parking lot, where he called police.
Branstad: Scrap economic development agency, replace it with public-private partnership
MARION, Iowa (AP) — Former Gov. Terry Branstad wants to scrap the Department of Economic Development and replace it with a public-private partnership that would be run by business professionals.
» Full StorySheriff: Man, woman apparently overcome by gas in Iowa farm well
COON RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities have released the names of a rural western Iowa couple who died after they apparently were overcome by gas in a water well.
» Full StoryMan serving time in South Dakota rape gets more prison time for Iowa hit-and-run incident
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (AP) — An man behind bars for a South Dakota rape is getting more prison time on a hit-and-run charge in Iowa.
» Full StoryNegligence lawsuit filed against owner of runaway horses during July 4 parade in Bellevue
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The parents of a child who was injured by two runaway horses during a Fourth of July parade in Bellevue are suing the owner of the horses for negligence.
» Full StoryIowa provides election resources to voters in military
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa secretary of state says there are resources for the state's military voters as the November general election nears.
» Full Story
E-Hawk XC at Spencer
Lady E-Hawks Down Chargers
E-Hawks Down Midgets 29-0
ELC FB vs. Eburg Aug. 27
ELC VB vs. Sioux Central
ELCAR at Spencer
2010 Washington State International Kite Festival
2010 ELC Fall Showcase