Eastern Iowa Man Facing Quadruple Murder Charges Wants Trial Moved From Linn County

Do you think someone who is charged with a crime can get a fair trial if there has been an intense amount of attention on that case in the area that it happened?

Defense attorneys are claiming the defendant can't get a fair trial in Linn County.  Luke Truesdell, the man charged with killing four people this summer, is asking for his trial to be moved out of Linn County. His lawyers are saying that, because of all the media coverage surrounding the case, he won't be able to get a fair trial there.

What is Alleged?

Iowa News Now says Truesdell is facing four counts of first-degree murder after allegedly attacking the victims with a metal pipe in a detached garage on East Otter Road in June. Three of the victims—Romondus Cooper, Keonna Ryan, and Amanda Parker—died at the scene, while the fourth, Brent Brown, passed away later at the hospital.

Right now, Truesdell is scheduled to stand trial in 2025, but before that, there’s a hearing on January 17, 2025 to decide whether the trial will be moved to another county. It’s essentially the defense’s way of making sure Truesdell has a chance at a fair trial without potential jurors being influenced by what they’ve heard in the news.

How Are You Chosen for Jury Duty in Iowa?

According to the Iowa Judicial Branch, you can be chosen for jury duty in many ways.  In Iowa, picking jurors is kind of like a game of chance!

They start by pulling names from a big pool made up of people who are registered voters, have a driver’s license, or hold a state ID card in the county. A computer does the work of randomly picking names from this list.

Then, the lucky folks chosen get a questionnaire in the mail to see if they’re eligible to serve on a jury. It’s like a raffle, but instead of winning a prize, you might be headed to court!

What is a Juror's Job and Could You Be Impartial?

Webster's dictionary defines impartial as "not partial or biased : treating or affecting all equally."

The Iowa Judicial Branch goes on to say that being a juror in Iowa is a pretty important job! Basically, your role is to listen to everything that’s said in court—whether it’s a civil case or a criminal one—and pay close attention to all the evidence.

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You'll hear from witnesses, and then it’s up to you to think through what’s been presented and follow the judge’s instructions on the law. After that, you get to team up with the other jurors in a private room to discuss everything and, together, you figure out what really happened.

In the end, you decide the verdict based on the facts. It’s a big responsibility!

There is a Payday

The Iowa Judicial Branch outlines how you are compensated for your time if you are selected for jury duty, and here is how that shakes out.

In Iowa, jurors get paid $30 a day for serving up to seven days. Plus, you're reimbursed for travel expenses to and from the courthouse, as well as parking. If your service goes beyond seven days, you'll earn $50 a day for each extra day you serve.

It's all in the interest of justice, hopefully.