35 Years Later: Arrest Made in Iowa Woman’s Disappearance
Major Breakthrough in Iowa Cold Case: 35 Years Later, Arrest Made
A major step has been taken to solve a decades old cold case right here in Iowa.
Barbara Lenz’s Disappearance: What Happened in 1989?
In 1989, an Iowa woman named Barbara Lenz went missing and no one ever heard from her again.
The then 31-year-old woman was supposed to pay her ex-boyfriend and child a visit in Omaha in early May of that year, according to reports.
When the mother never arrived, she was reported missing to local authorities.
35 Years Without Answers: The Mystery of Lenz’s Disappearance
It's been 35 years since anyone has seen the Woodbine, Iowa woman.
Her body has never been found.
Breaking News: Arrest Made in Connection to Barbara Lenz’s Case
Now, as we are slowly approaching the 36th anniversary of her disappearance, law enforcement officials have made an arrest in connection with Lenz's case.
Robert Davis: The Last Person to See Barbara Lenz Alive
One of the last people to see this woman alive was her boyfriend Robert Davis, according to reports.
He alleges that the last time he saw her, he dropped Lenz off at her Woodbine apartment.
A Troubling Relationship: Lenz Feared for Her Life
At the time that she vanished, Davis was around 25-years old. In the days leading up to Lenz's disappearance she told people that she actually feared her boyfriend.
Reports even claim that Barbara Lenz said that she was afraid he would "kill her if she ever left."
During their two year relationship, Davis allegedly assaulted this woman multiple times, according to a criminal court complaint. In 1989, he even admitted that he hurt her in the past and that he had a "violent temper."
Allegations of Abuse: A History of Violence
Robert Davis has a bit of a record as well.
In the mid '90s, Davis was charged with third-degree kidnapping and third-degree sexual abuse of a woman in Woodbine, according to a report from KCCI.
Robert Davis Arrested: The Long-Awaited Break in the Case
Robert Davis was arrested in connection to the Lenz disappearance at his home in Council Bluffs on Monday, March 10th, according to a KCRG report. The 61-year-old man is being charged with first degree murder.
We will keep you updated as the story develops.
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Gallery Credit: Claire Epting