(Radio Iowa) – Tax policy dominated yesterday’s (Thursday) debate in the Iowa legislature, but the dire situation in Ukraine was the subject of a fiery prayer in the Senate and the House ended its day with a standing ovation for the people of Ukraine. Senator Tom Shipley of Nodaway mentioned Russia’s invasion right before he led the opening prayer in the Senate.

Thursday afternoon, just after voting on the tax bill, senators from both parties gave brief speeches in support of the people and the government of Ukraine. Thursday NIGHT, after a partisan debate over the tax bill, members of the House shared a moment of unity.

That’s Representative Todd Prichard of Charles City, who delivered a brief speech in the House. Prichard, a member of the Army Reserve, spoke about meeting soldiers from Ukraine during a tour of duty in Europe five years ago.

After voting is over, most House members typically exit the Capitol, but not last night. Many stood as Prichard spoke, suggesting America would be called upon, again, to be the world’s Arsenal of Democracy.

Prichard asked his colleagues to think about Ukraine as they made their way home. Applause is allowed in a limited number of circumstances in the House, but as Prichard concluded with that request, members of the House applauded in unison.

(Council Bluffs, Iowa) – Authorities in Council Bluffs said Friday (Today), Police detectives have cleared the cold case homicide of 32-year-old Lee Rotatori, who was murdered in June 1982. Rotatori, a resident of Nunica, Michigan, had just started a job at Jennie Edmundson Hospital and had been staying at the Best Western Frontier Hotel, for several nights, while looking for a permanent place to live. When she did not show up for work on the morning of June 25, 1982, her boss asked the hotel staff to check on her and her deceased body was discovered inside her rented room. Rotatori died from a single stab wound and there was evidence of a sexual assault. No suspects were identified during the initial investigation.

Lee Rotatori

In 2001, the evidence collected in 1982 was resubmitted to the State of Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Lab for examination. Advances in forensic technology revealed the presence of a male DNA profile. When entered into the State and Federal DNA databases, there was not a match for this DNA. The DCI Lab would periodically check this unknown DNA over the years, without ever getting any matches.

In April 2019, Council Bluffs investigators submitted the unknown male DNA profile to Parabon Nanolabs to begin a genetic genealogy case. In February 2021, researchers from Parabon and ES Genealogy, who examined familial relationships, concluded that 35-year-old Thomas O. Freeman, of West Frankfort, Illinois, was the source of the suspect DNA. A sample of Freeman’s daughter’s DNA was subsequently analyzed by the Iowa DCI Lab, which confirmed that there was a parent/child relationship between the DNA found at the scene of Rotatori’s murder and Freeman’s daughter.

Further investigation revealed that Freeman was also the victim of a murder. On October 30, 1982, his decomposed body was found buried in a shallow grave near Cobden, Illinois. Freeman had been shot multiple times. It was reported that he had been dead for about three months before his body was discovered. Freeman’s killer was never identified. Council Bluffs investigators are currently working with the Illinois State Police to determine if Freeman’s murder was somehow linked to his involvement in Rotatori’s death.

Thomas O. Freeman (unknown date of photo)

The Council Bluffs Police Department would like to give thanks and credit to Parabon Nanolabs and Eric Schubert, of ES Genealogy, for their work on this case. Council Bluffs Police Detective Steve Andrews and CSI Supervisor Katie Pattee have been leading this investigation locally.

(Creston, Iowa) – No one was injured Thursday night in Creston, when an SUV struck a utility pole. Creston Police say a 2022 Mazda CX9 driven by 41-year-old Jennifer J. Kenyon, of Creston, was traveling north on Highway 25 in Creston, when the vehicle drove onto the right shoulder of the road. Kenyon over-corrected and failed to maintain control of her SUV. The vehicle went off the road on the east side and struck a utility pole. The accident happened at around 9:34-p.m.

The pole wasn’t damaged. The SUV sustained $2,000 damage. No citations were issued.

(Creston, Iowa)-  Police in Creston report an arrest occurred at around 1:30-p.m. Thursday, following a traffic stop at Highway 34 and Cherry Street. Authorities say 25-year-old James Edward Sullivan, III, of Creston, was arrested for Driving While Suspended. He was transported to the Union County Jail, posted bond, and was released.

And, a man residing in the 700 block of N. Cherry Street in Creston, reported to Police multiple chainsaws were stolen from his pickup truck. The loss was estimated at $798.

(Corning, Iowa) – Sheriff’s officials in Adams County report a man from Corning was arrested Thursday evening, for child endangerment causing bodily injury–a class D felony. Authorities say 35-year-old Benjamin Warren Rice was arrested in the 800 block of Davis Avenue in Corning, at around 8:40-p.m. Rice was being held in the Adams County Jail on a $5,000 cash bond.