The Iowa Department of Public Safety late Sunday afternoon issued an update on a death investigation KJAN reported on earlier in the day. Officials say at about 8:00-PM on Saturday, August 3rd, the body of a white, 31 year old female was found in a field along 120th Street, about one quarter mile west of Lenox.

Local law enforcement authorities requested the Iowa Division on Criminal Investigation (DCI) assist in conducting the investigation into the woman’s death. Preliminary information shows there are no obvious signs of foul play. However, further information surrounding the cause and manner of death will be gained after an autopsy is conducted Monday, August 5th, at the State Medical Examiner’s Office.

At this time, the name of the deceased woman will not be released, as law enforcement have not yet located her family to conduct a proper death notification. The investigation is being conducted cooperatively by DCI, Taylor County Sheriff’s Office and Lenox Police Department.

The Lenox Police Department reports the arrest on Saturday of a Nevada man on drug and assault charges. Authorities say at around 6:15-p.m. Saturday, police received a report of a disturbance on West Nebraska street involving a man who was possibly armed. Officers from the Lenox Police department, Taylor and Adams County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa State Patrol responded. Following investigation into the incident, 43-year old Randy Ethridge, of Elko NV, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and domestic assault.

Ethridge was transported to the Taylor County Sheriffs Office for processing then taken to the Ringgold County jail pending an appearance before a magistrate. Officials stressed in their press release, that there is NO CONNECTION between Ethridge’ arrest, and the incident involving a deceased person currently under investigation in Taylor County.

Sheriff’s officials in Taylor County say local and state authorities are investigating the death of a person found in a field about three-quarters of a mile west of Lenox. The body was discovered at around 7-p.m. Saturday. Officers with the Lenox Police Department, Taylor and Adams County Sheriffs Office and the Iowa State Patrol responded to the area and secured the scene. Investigators and crime scene specialists with The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were notified and arrived at around 1-a.m., Sunday.

Officials of the Taylor County Sheriffs Office, The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, The Iowa State Patrol and the Lenox Police Department remained on scene Sunday, conducting an investigation into the incident. The identification of the victim and cause of death have not been determined. Officials did not confirm a report KJAN received earlier in the day, Sunday, that the case was a possible rape and homicide. Authorities have also not commented about social media statements indicating the victim was a 31-year old woman from Brookfield, MO, whose hometown is Creston, Iowa.

A woman from Kansas was injured during an SUV rollover accident this (Sunday) morning, on Interstate 29. The Iowa State Patrol says 29-year old Denisha Turnbo, of Kansas City, MO, was transported to Jennie Edmundson Hospital in Council Bluffs by Glenwood Rescue, following the crash which occurred at around 6:20-a.m. Officials say Turnbo was traveling south in the left lane on Interstate 29 about 3-miles north of the Glenwood exit, when a deer ran out of the ditch and hit her 2002 Chevy Suburban.

The vehicle went out of control, entered the median and rolled over, coming to rest on its wheels. Turnbo, who was wearing her seat belt, suffered non-life threatening injuries during the crash.

Authorities with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Taylor County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a reported homicide. Sources with knowledge of the incident say a the body of a woman who was raped and murdered was found in a corn field Saturday evening. A dispatcher at the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office said more information is expected later this afternoon. No other details are currently available.

Police in Red Oak report one person was arrested early this (Sunday) morning. 33-year old Dontar Ternell Lewis, of Red Oak, was arrested for Serious Domestic Assault causing bodily injury, following a reported domestic assault in the 900 block of North Miller Street, at around 3:15-a.m.

Lewis was taken to the Montgomery County Law Enforcement Center and held without bond.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Dreamers hoping to strike it rich quick plunked down $2 a ticket hoping to win a Powerball jackpot estimated to be at least $300 million.  The winning numbers for Saturday’s drawing were 21, 24, 36, 42, and 45, with the Powerball 15. There were no jackpot winners for Saturday’s drawing.

The next drawing will be Wednesday, and the revised estimated jackpot is $400 million, well below the record $590.5 million jackpot that was won in May by an 84-year-old Florida widow.  Saturday’s pot was big enough, though, to attract casual players who only buy tickets when they think the payoff is big and potentially life-changing.  The odds of matching all six numbers are 1 in 175.2 million.

Powerball is played in 43 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press…

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Representative Bruce Braley says he will travel to Israel next week as part of a 37-member Congressional delegation as peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders resume after a three-year hiatus. The trip is sponsored by the nonprofit American Israel Education Foundation. Due to security considerations, a detailed itinerary will be not published prior to the trip.

OSCEOLA, Iowa (AP) — Two men are dead after being hit by a train in southern Iowa. Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus tells Des Moines television station KCCI that officials are looking into why the men were on the tracks in a residential area of Osceola around 5 a.m. yesterday. Officials didn’t release the names or ages of the two dead men Saturday.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (AP) — Police say a Davenport man being held on kidnapping and rape charges is now facing another charge after having his father hand-deliver a threatening letter to his victim. The Quad-City Times reports that 29-year-old Nathan Ronnau has had a charge of first-degree harassment added to first-degree kidnapping and second-degree sexual abuse. Ronnau is being held in Scott County Jail on $1 million bond.

NEWTON, Iowa (AP) — Brad Keselowski took control with 35 laps left to win the NASCAR Nationwide race at Iowa Speedway Saturday night. The Sprint Cup driver has won in his last three Nationwide starts, also topping the field at Richmond in April and Kentucky in June.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (AP) — Authorities are searching for a man who did not return to jail from a work release facility in Council Bluffs. The U.S. Marshal’s Office and Iowa State Patrol say 52-year-old Michael Hannum was last seen at a work release facility around 5:40 a.m. Saturday. Authorities say they discovered he was missing during an inmate count at 7 a.m. Saturday.

The Council Bluffs Nonpareil reports that Hannum is believed to be driving a silver car with the Iowa license plate number SIS-613. Authorities believe he may be across the Missouri River in Omaha, Neb.

The Fremont County Sheriff’s Office responded to several 911 calls of a motor home on fire West of Bluff Road on Highway 2 at approximately 1:30pm Friday (8/2).  Upon arrival at the scene Fremont County Personnel found a motor home completely engulfed in flames.  Deputies were informed that everyone was out of the motor home and that it had several propane tanks and diesel fuel on board.

Authorities then shut down all traffic on Highway 2 at the time due to the dangerous situation.  Responding fire departments from Sidney, Hamburg, and Percival were able to bring the fire under control in about an hour.  The motor home was a total loss and the fire is still under investigation by the Fremont County Sheriff’s Office.

After the scene was cleared up the owner of the vehicle John Cobb of Ft. Myers, Florida was questioned about the incident.  Cobb stated that he was traveling with his wife Sherry west bound on Highway 2 in their 1996 motor home through Waubonsie State Park when their motor home started to run funny.  After they came out of the park area they started to smell smoke and then saw the rear of the vehicle on fire.  They were able to pull to the shoulder and exit the vehicle.  They unhooked a jeep they had in tow and were able to get away from the motor home safely.