Suspect sought in Tuesday murder

Male in mid-20s was stabbed to death in downtown apartment building

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - Fort Madison police are searching for a man in his mid-20s in connection with a stabbing that took place Tuesday afternoon at an apartment complex near downtown Fort Madison resulting in the death of male in his mid-20s.

The man was stabbed in the abdomen in an upper hallway of an apartment complex at 610 8th Street, and was originally taken to the Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center in Fort Madison in grave condition.

Fort Madison Police Chief Mark Rohloff said the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation has been called in to help assist with the investigation. DCI was on their way from Des Moines after being contacted for assistance and would be on the scene most of of the night.

Rohloff said he doesn't believe there is any threat to the general public.

"We believe these two people were associated. We don't believe the general public is threatened by the individual. (The assault) was directed toward the specific individual, so it's not like there's someone running loose with a knife," he said.

Rohloff is classifying the assault as an intentional homicide.

"We have been canvassing the area and we'll be seeking video from cameras in the downtown area to make some sort of determinations."

Police were called to the area at about 4:40 p.m. for a report of the stabbing. Fort Madison Fire Chief Joey Herren and Rohloff were both at City Hall at the time and responded on foot to the scene where Fort Madison Fire & Rescue and Fort Madison Police were already on the scene.

Lee County EMS Director Dennis Cosby also responded and began administering aid until Lee County EMS Ambulance arrived to transport the man to the hospital.

Rohloff said a witness in the area was able to provide some information on the suspect, but he is asking anyone with video or information about the incident, or who was in the area at the time of the incident, which was about 4:40 p.m., to contact police at 372-2525.

No weapon was found at the scene. Rohloff said there was other evidence collected at the scene, but didn't release any additional information.

The victim's name was not released pending notification of family.