The boyfriend of an Iowa mother who vanished 36 years in the past has been arrested and charged along with her homicide — as authorities revealed he allegedly threatened to kill her if she ever left him.
Robert Davis, 61, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree homicide within the disappearance of Barbara Lenz, who was 31 when she was final seen on Could 6, 1989, and whose physique has by no means been discovered, the Iowa Division of Justice mentioned in a information launch.
Davis, who was 26 on the time, had informed authorities he had dropped his girlfriend off at her condo in Woodbine, Iowa earlier than she was supposed to go to an ex, the daddy of her 3-year-old daughter — claiming that she later referred to as him saying she was along with her daughter, cops mentioned.
Nevertheless, police later came upon that Davis, who had a violent historical past, assaulted Lenz “on a number of recognized events” — and informed at the least two folks Davis “had threatened to kill her if she ever left him,” based on a legal criticism.
Davis admitted assaulting Lenz on a number of events all through their 2-year relationship, together with as soon as when he strangled her till she grew to become unconscious, the doc mentioned.
There was additionally an incident the place Davis allegedly hit Lenz’s daughter at a restaurant in entrance of her and different witnesses, based on the criticism.
Severel fights have been sparked by his jealousy over Lenz going to Nebraska to go to her daughter and ex-boyfriend, he allegedly mentioned.
The 2 fought the day of her disappearance about her meant go to, and a witness noticed Davis injure Lenz by “slashing her with a pointy instrument throughout the face,” the criticism learn.
That very same witness later noticed Davis at an area bar the place he claimed to be “in search of Lenz.” The witness famous his “misplaced” conduct as a result of the witness noticed Davis depart with Lenz earlier that day.
A distinct witness later informed investigators that shortly after Lenz’s disappearance, they noticed Davis and his brother “buried one thing in a rural space close to Davis’ residence,” per the criticism.
“Davis’ brother visited the property with the witness and confirmed the witness the place he had dug a gap for his brother and helped him bury one thing wrapped in plastic,” the criticism learn.
Not less than two folks additionally reported to investigators that in arguments with Davis after Lenz’s disappearance, he would warn them that they’d “find yourself like Barbara,” based on the criticism.
Although Lenz’s physique has by no means been discovered, the investigation has been ongoing and led to Davis.
Investigators say that given his conduct and historical past with Lenz, they consider Davis murdered her “with malice aforethought, wilfully, intentionally, and with premeditation.”
Lenz’s daughter, Lindsy Baumgart, informed CBS Information affiliate KCCI that Davis’s arrest was “very surreal” and “one thing that I’ve waited for my complete life.”
“I by no means thought this present day would come,” she mentioned, including she hopes investigators can lastly find her mom’s stays. “Justice for me could be bringing my mamma residence.”
Davis has been held with out bail within the Harrison County Jail since his arrest Monday.
