The Page County Sheriff’s Office reports an arrest has been made in connection with a death that took place last June. Sheriff Lyle Palmer says on Monday, April 26th at 4:00 p.m. officers arrested 51-year-old Melissa Renee Pedersen, of Clarinda, on a Page County warrant for felony dependent adult abuse. Pedersen was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Page County Jail where she is being held on $11,000 cash only bail.

Melissa Renee Pedersen

Sheriff Palmer says the arrest of Melissa Pedersen stems from an investigation conducted by the Clarinda Police Department and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office into the death of Thomas Joseph Pedersen, who was found dead in his home at 600 West Lincoln Street on June 2, 2020. Melissa Pedersen and Thomas Pedersen were married and resided together at the time of Thomas Pedersen’s death.

Reports have been forwarded to Page County Attorney’s Office for decisions concerning the filing of formal charges.