712 Digital Group - top

Bluffs murder trial delayed

News

July 7th, 2015 by Ric Hanson

The trial for a Council Bluffs woman who allegedly stabbed her estranged boyfriend last year won’t start this month, as anticipated. The Daily NonPareil says prosecutors in the case of 45-year old Jodie Sherman had hoped to start the trial at on July 21st, but according to Pottawattamie County Attorney Matt Wilber, new medical information has made that start date impossible.

Sherman was arrested in July 2014 on charges of first-degree murder, violation of a restraining order and assault to cause willful injury in the death of her estranged boyfriend, 52-year-old Douglas Richt. According to the autopsy report, Richt was stabbed in his throat with a knife, leaving a four-inch incision.

Witnesses said they saw Sherman and Richt arguing inside a 1999 Saturn before he got out and stumbled to the porch at 3501 Fifth Ave. Sherman took off down Fifth Avenue and was quickly apprehended. Richt died as medical personnel were transporting him to CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center.

Wilber said his office received a report last month from Sherman’s lawyer, Jennifer Solberg, that said Sherman had been found insane by a doctor hired by defense. Wilber spoke with his staff on Thursday and determined the county would also need to have Sherman interviewed by a doctor.

The Pottawattamie County Attorney’s Office has not yet filed a request for a continuance, but Wilber expects the filing will take place soon. Sherman is being held without bail at the Pottawattamie County Jail.