The boyfriend of Iowa's mother, who disappeared 36 years ago, was arrested and charged with her murder. As authorities say they threatened to kill her if she left him.
Robert Davis, 61, was arrested Monday and charged with first-degree murder in the disappearance of Barbara Lenz, 31 when she was last seen on May 6, 1989. He said in a news release.
Davis, who was 26 at the time, told authorities that he dropped his girlfriend off at his Woodbine, Iowa apartment before visiting the ex-dad of his three-year-old daughter.
However, police later found out that Davis, who has a violent history, had attacked Lenz “on some known occasions,” and at least two people “threw him to kill her if she left him.” According to criminal charges.
Davis admitted to attacking Lenz several times throughout his two-year relationship.
According to the complaint, there was also an incident in which Davis allegedly attacked at a restaurant in front of Lenz's daughter and other witnesses.
The fight for Severelle was caused by jealousy over Lenz going to Nebraska to visit his daughter and ex-boyfriend, he said.
The two fought on the day of losing abe about her intended visit. Witnesses saw Davis hurt Lenz by “slashing her with a sharp instrument across her face,” the complaints read.
That same witness later saw Davis at a local bar. There he insisted that he was “looking for Lenz.” Eyewitnesses noted his “misplaced” behavior as they saw the witness leaving with Lentz earlier that day.
Another witness later told investigators that shortly after Lenz's loss of failure, they saw Davis and his brother following a complaint that they had “built something in a rural area near Davis's home.”
“Davis' brother visited the property with the witness and showed the witness where he dug a hole for his brother, helping him fill in what was wrapped in plastic,” the complaint read.
At least the two reported to investigators that they would “become like Barbara” in discussions with Davis after Lenz's loss of affed.
Lenz's body has not been found, but investigations are underway, leading to Davis.
Investigators say that given his actions and history with Lentz, Davis “believes that he murdered her maliciously, intentionally, deliberately, deliberately and deliberately.”
Lentz's daughter, Lindsey Baumgath, said CBS News Affiliate KCCI Davis' arrest was “very surreal” and “something I've been waiting for forever.”
“I didn't expect this day to come,” she said. He added that investigators hope to finally find his mother's body. “Just for me will bring my mamma home.”
Davis has been held without bail at the Harrison County Jail since his arrest Monday.
