(Radio Iowa) – A second man has been found guilty in the October, 2021 death of David McDowell, whose body was found on a rural road outside of Estherville. A jury found Cejay Van Der Wilt guilty of involuntary manslaughter after hearing testimony from Connor Uhde and Brady Salberg, who were described in the courtroom as accomplices. Prosecutors were seeking a first degree murder conviction.

In a closing statement, prosecutor Maureen Hughes said it was Van Der Wilt that implemented and carried out a plan to kill David McDowell. She said Van Der Wilt, along with Connor Uhte and others, lured McDowell to an apartment in Estherville. McDowell was then driven to a rural area outside of Estherville. He was shot in the neck with a shotgun. Defense attorney Mike Adams said there was conflicting testimony from Uhte and Brady Salberg, who were in the car with Van Der Wilt and McDowell. The defense attorney told the jury the testimony from accomplices cannot be used to corroborate one another. Involuntary manslaughter is a Class D felony that carries a sentence of up to five years in prison.

Connor Uhde, who testified against Van Der Wilt during the trial, had earlier pleaded guilty to attempted murder and third degree kidnapping. He faces up to 25 years in prison. Brady Salberg, the other man who testified against Van Der Wilt this week, has never been charged in connection with McDowell’s death. McDowell was 20 years old when he was killed.