County Attorney bumps Murie charges to attempted murder

FORT MADISON - Lee County Attorney Ross Braden has elevated the charges against a Fort Madison man accused of assaulting a former girlfriend who had a protective order in place.
Kristopher Robin Murie, 44, of Fort Madison, has been charged with Attempt to Commit Murder, Burglary in the First Degree, and Sexual Abuse in the First Degree. These charges were filed in North Lee County Court Wednesday and were the result of further investigation and case review stemming from the incident.
On Saturday, April 12, 2025, at approximately 12:48 p.m., officers with the Fort Madison Police Department responded to Southeast Iowa Regional Medical Center for a report of a female victim suffering from lacerations to her head and neck.
Murie was initially arrested and charged with Violation of a No Contact Order, Willful Injury Causing Serious Injury, and Domestic Abuse Assault with a Weapon. Following further investigation, and a review of pertinent information that was unavailable at the time, the charges were increased in severity. He is currently being held in the Lee County Jail.
The Fort Madison Police Department is the lead agency in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Lee County Attorney’s Office.
The public is reminded that a criminal charge is merely an accusation. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
According to records filed in N. Lee County Court, the victim was asleep in the living room the evening of April 11, when she heard loud banging on the door and found Murie standing in the doorway and it being dark outside.
The victim’s statement to police indicated Murie and the victim became engaged in an altercation and he had a machete and a hammer, along with a shorter knife and a box cutter in his hand. Murie told her that he was going to kill her and then kill himself.
After a period of physical assaults, the victim reported that Murie began to wake her up to tell her she needed to get in her vehicle to be taken to the hospital, where staff notified law enforcement.
The complaint also indicated that Murie had no weapons or tools on him at the time of his arrest. The victim was stabilized and then transferred to another facility for advanced care.
Murie is being held on a $20,000 cash only bond.