Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Authorities in southern Iowa's Ringgold County are investigating the discovery of human remains northeast of Mount Ayr. The sheriff's department received a phone call Monday from some deer hunters who thought they had found some unidentified skeletal remains.

The sheriff's department, county medical examiner, Department of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Medical Examiner's Office and Iowa State Patrol responded. The remains were found to be human and were taken to the medical examiner's office for further investigation and an anthropologist to help determine the individual's identity and possible cause of death.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ringgold County Sheriff's office at (641) 464-3921.

Radio Iowa News

Friday, June 6, 2008

A murder charge is filed against a man from the Page County town of College Springs after a mysterious death last year. The Ringgold County Sheriff's Office says it arrested Edward Eugene GRAY, Jr., on Tuesday in connection with skeletal remains found last December.

Local hunters discovered the body along a country road in this south central Iowa county. GRAY was charged with first-degree murder and is being held on a $750,000 cash only bond. According to a press release, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the sheriff's office are both continuing to investigate the incident. Sheriff Mike SOBOTKA was not immediately available for comment.

NOTE: Subsequent press release by Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation stated that the victim was found approximately 4 miles northwest of Mount Ayr, on December 3rd, 2007 by a hunting party. The remains were completely skeletonized. The victim was fatally shot in this remote area and the suspects (2) dragged the body to an area, leaving it among the trees and grass in a farm field. The victim was estimated to be between 18 and 30 years of age, approximately 5'3" to 5'6", dressed in a "Tommy Hilfiger" jean shorts with a belt, and a maroon-colored "DVS" hooded sweatshirt; and black "skater" style tennis shoes, size 8. -http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1266umia.html

The Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
June 11, 2008

MOUNT AYR - A College Springs, Iowa man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the human remains discovered by hunters on December 3rd in rural Ringgold County in Liberty Township. The body was that of a male determined to be in his twenties, more than likely Caucasian or Hispanic, wearing jeans, a moron hooded sweatshire and DVS brand shoes. The victim had a "Lord of the Rings" ring on his finger.

Edward Eugene GRAY Jr. of College Springs was charged on Tuesday, June 3rd with first-degree murder in Mt. Ayr, Iowa.

Papers filed in Ringgold County District Court this week charge that on or about May 1, 2007, the still-unidentified victim was killed by GRAY with premeditation and/or while participating in a forcible felony.

The Globe-Gazette
Mason City, Iowa
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

MOUNT AYR (AP) — Police have made an arrest in the slaying of a man whose remains were found by hunters in Ringgold County in 2007.

Collins STRAIGHT is charged with first-degree murder. Court records show he was arrested on Nov. 25. He is being held under $1 million bond.

Arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 22.

Court records show that STRAIGHT is accused shooting the victim after driving him to a remote area to complete a drug transaction.

The victim, described as a caucasion or Hispanic male in his 20s, has not been identified.

Investigators say the victim was wearing a hooded sweatshirt and shorts. A “Lord of the Rings” ring was found with the body.

Investigators believe the man died more than six months before his body was found by hunters.

KCCI News
Des Moines, Iowa
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Police said they've identified the person responsible for a homicide in Mount Ayr that happened more than a year ago.

Hunters found the body on Dec. 5, 2007 but police have been unable to identify the victim.

Prosecutors filed first-degree murder charges against Collins STRAIGHT in connection with the case. Court records accuse STRAIGHT of killing the man during a drug deal, and that he was arrested on Nov. 25. He is heling held under $1 million bond.

The victim was carrying little identification at the time of his death. Police said the only notable clue is that he was wearing a replica ring from the Lord of the Rings movies.

NOTE: According to Collins STRAIGHT page on myspace, he was 28-years-old at the time of his arrest, employed as a contractor, and a father of two. He listed his mood as "rebellious" and he loves to "go hunting, handfishing, and drinking with friends."

Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Edward Eugene GRAY, Jr., 33, of Clarinda, pled guilty in early January to conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, announced United States Attorney Nicholas A. KLINEFELDT. A sentencing hearing before district court judge John A. JARVEY will be scheduled at a later date.

GRAY was charged at one time with the death of a man found dead in Ringgold county and the Ringgold county sheriff’s office was part of the investigation.

According to the written plea agreement, from approximately January 2004 until November 2010, the defendant was involved in the distribution of methamphetamine in the southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri areas with co-conspirators Orvis Lee WAGAMAN, 56, of College Springs; Edward Eugene GRAY, Sr., 53, of Coin; Levi Edward GRAY, 23, of Clarinda, and others. Additionally, the defendant was aware that a co-conspirator carried a firearm while distributing methamphetamine with the defendant, and the possession of the fire-arm was in furtherance of the drug conspiracy.

Orvis Lee WAGAMAN, Edward Eugene GRAY, Sr., and Levi Edward GRAY have entered guilty pleas to the drug conspiracy and are pending sentencing.

GRAY pleads guilty to meth drug charges Conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, has a mandatory minimum sentencing of 10 years in prison up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $10,000,000 or both a fine and imprisonment, and a period of supervised release following imprisonment of at least fiveyears.

Possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense, carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years inprison up to life imprisonment, a fine of up to $250,000, or both a fine and imprisonment, and a pe-riod of supervised release of three years.

The sentence for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense must be served consecutively to the sentence imposed for the drug conspiracy.

The Three-County Task Force (Adams, Ringgold and Taylor Counties) was also part of the long list of groups involved in the drug investigation. This case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Iowa

NOTE: Luis FERNANDEZ was identified as the murder victim in 2012.

Mount Ayr Record News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 18, 2013

First-degree murders charges have once again been filed against Edward Eugene GRAY, Jr., in connection with a body found in a remote area in Ringgold county in 2007.

GRAY, whose latest address was listed as the federal penitentary in Leavenworth, KS, is scheduled to appear for arraignment April 22 in the Ringgold county courthouse. He is currently being held in the Ringgold county jail under an $800,000 cash bond.

The charges stem from the discovery by deer hunters of unidentified human remains on December 3, 2007. The body was located in Liberty township north and east of Mount Ayr.

The Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol and Ringgold county sheriff's officers investigated the incident and termed it "suspicious" in nature.

In May 2008, after an autopsy and investigation of evidence, the still unidentified body was said to be a Caucasian or Hispanic male between 5'3" and 5'6" inches tall. A ring was also found on the body.

The authorities asked the public's assistance in providing information in the case.

Using information provided by Collins Lee STRAIGHT, officers arrested GRAY June 3, 2008 at the Ringgold county courthouse when he appeared to answer to a charge of possession of drug paraphenalia.

The indictment stated the victim had been driven to a remote area by GRAY and another unidentified individual for a drug deal. The victim was then murdered and his body dragged to an area with trees and grass for concealment.

GRAY was arraigned June 23, 2008, but those charges were later dropped pending further investigation.

On November 24, 2008, Collins STRAIGHT was identified as the second individual involved in the the murder, and he was charged with first degree murder.

STRAIGHT was already in custody at the Ringgold county jail under different charges at the time of his arrest.

On October 17, 2012 a second arrest warrant was issued for the arrest of Edward GRAY on first degree murder charges.

In his preliminary hearing, GRAY appeared before magistrate James PEDERSEN in Mount Ayr on March 30, 2013, at which time the $800,000 cash bond was set.

GRAY is set to appear for arraignment April 22 before judge Paul K. HUSHER at the Ringgold county courthouse.

Transcriptions by Sharon R. Becker

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, April 24, 2014, Pages 1 & 2

Edward Eugene GRAY, Jr., originally of Clarinda, was found guilty of one count of voluntary manslaughter, a Class C felony; one count of conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, a Class B felony and one count of first degree robbery,a Class B felony,in fifth judicial court proceedings held recently in Mount Ayr.

The voluntary manslaughter charge stemmed from the discovery by deer hunters of the remains of Luis FERNANDEZ on December 3, 2007. The body was located in Liberty township north and east of Mount Ayr.

Originally charged with first degree murder, GRAY pled guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter on April 10.

The manslaughter plea carries a penalty of incarceration for a term not to exceed 10 years and restitution to Fernandez's heirs in the amount of $150,000. GRAY was credited for already serving 454 days behind bars. A find of $1,000 plus a $350 statutory charge were suspended.

According to court documents, voluntary manslaughter can be defined as "Circumstances which would otherwise be murder if the person causing the death acts solely as the result of sudden, violent and irresistable passion resulting from serious provocation sufficient to execut such passion in a person and there is not an interval between the provocation and the killing in which a person of ordinary reason and temperment would regain control and suppress the impulse to kill."

Using information provided by Collins Lee STRAIGHT and others, officers arrested GRAY June 3, 2008, at the Ringgold county courthouse when he appeared to answer to a charge of possession of drug paraphenalia. The indictment stated the victim had been driven to a remote area by GRAY and STRAIGHT for a drug deal. The victim was then murdered and his body dragged to an area with treesand grass for concealment.

GRAY was arraigned June 23, 2008, but those charges were later dropped pending further investigation.

On November 24, 2008, Collins STRAIGHT was identified as the second individual involved in the murder, and he was charged with first degree murder. STRAIGHT was already in custody at the Ringgold county jail under different charges at the time of his arrest. STRAIGHT is currently serving time for his actions in the crime.

On October 17, 2012, a second arrest warrent was issued for the arrest of Edward GRAY on first degree murder charges.

The drug charge was based on a long-running investigation into GRAY and several other individuals. According to court documents in 2012, GRAY and others were involved in the distribution of more than five grams of methamphetamine in southwest Iowa and northwest Missouri from approximately January 2004 until November 2010.

The drug charge carries a penalty of incarceration not to exceed 25 years to be served consecutively with count one. With a guilty plea, the sentence was reduced by one-third. Other penalties include a law enforcement surcharge of $125, a DARE surcharge of $10 and revocation of driving privileges of 180 days.

The robbery charge was based upon GRAY'S intent to rob FERNANDEZ the night of the incident and his subsequent taking of money from FERNANDEZ'S body after the shooting.

The robbery charge carries a penalty of a prison term not to exceed 25 years to run consecutively with the terms for counts one and two and jail fees to Ringgold county of $40 per day and reimbursement of $222.45 for medical treatment.

Along with the penalties for each county, additional payments of $12,309.02 and $1,850 will go to the Crime Victim Assistance program.

Court-appointed attorney fees and indigent defense fees were not imposed due to GRAY'S inability to pay.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2014