MASON CITY – Information continues to trickle in about what is described as a beating of a young man on Mason City’s North End, which appears to have had a tragic ending.
According to sources a man was at or near the 12th Street NE – 13th Street NE area between the Dog Park and Federal Avenue this week – perhaps over the weekend – when he was engaged by what is now described as a lone attacker. The young man – who we are told recently moved back to Mason City from Florida – was beaten by an acquaintance and later died.
Mason City police now say that on Wednesday, August 26 at 4:35 PM, officers and medics were called to a residence in the 1000 block of 9th Street NE for a report of an unresponsive person. William Gerald Whipple, age 20, was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital and later passed away.
Police are now investigating, and NIT is told they are taking statements.
New information says that the victim “was taken (to Mercy Hospital) after the assault” and then possibly to an Iowa City hospital before he was released.
NIT is told that Thursday would have been William’s 21st birthday.
New information sent:
Aug 27th, 12:43pm
“I know a lot of what (victim: WW) told me himself after his fight on Saturday. (Name of the alleged attacker withheld) was the one who beat my friend down and (another person) was with him this night before it happened and dropped them all off at my best friends house. WW wanted to walk home but (the alleged attacker) said he would wak with him so he wasn’t alone. They then were by the dog/car wash and WW told me he was then being choked out by (the attacker) and (was) fed knees to the face and his (body) several times. The ambulance took WW back to the spot of offense and grabbed his hat. Went to Iowa city to be in the ICU and left a day later. His jaw was wired shut from being broken and he looked like his faced had been beaten in real bad to the point he could have suffered head trauma. This is all from what WW told me himself. Also at the house where he left (the alleged attacker) lives at with also (another man) who has a warrant. But the (autopsy) will tell…”
Aug 27th, 1:13pm
“My husband and daughter saw WW that night. He was walking, and it was raining. They couldn’t tell he was in distress. WW made it to Kum and go on 12th Street. And he was taken by ambulance from there. Jake at Kum and Go said he was bleeding from his head really bad. My husband and daughter feel horrible that they didn’t realize he was hurt or they would have stopped. And, the attacker was — ——. And I guess he just got out of jail. Hope they arrest him and get him back to jail.”
Aug 27th, 8:50pm
“It was definitely only one person who beat him. He pretended to be his friend, even gave him a sweatshirt to wear. He was in a lot of pain so he was sleeping a lot when he got out of the icu to try to heal faster. He wasn’t responding to anyone so someone went to check and called 911 because he wasn’t responsive. ——– —– deserves to rot in prison. They thought he was going to make it not sure exactly most likely complications from being beat. — strangled him with the sweatshirt also. He deserves justice, — left him there to die in the rain…. but he was strong enough to make it to the gas station.”
The only one that knows the truth is the old lady he lived with. Drugs???? Drugs???? You betch ya!!!!!. “if it doesn’t fit, you must acquit”
Unsure when it happened??? Says police found him on wednesday and they say perhaps this weekend? Thats why people like Trump – NO bullchit and the truth- Enough phoney public servants (worthless) bullchiters.
Fights happen everyday…… that’s what it is plain and simple a fight. The people that were in this fight I am su re neither sides wanted to kill anyone. It’s is however and unfortunate ending to a young man’s life,but it was not intentional on either party. And quite frankly an overdose is extremely possible in this case considering he was on al of of drugs when he went in the first nig hr who is to say that he didn’t get out and take too much drugs
Fights happen every day? I don’t think this was a fight..this was an attack. An attack on William for no reason. And what if someone attacked a member of your family or a close friend, would you still say it was just a fight. A young man lost his due to being attacked. The attacker needs to be arrested and sent back to prison, yes back. He just got out not too long ago.
The hosiplat realeaed william on the 23rd, as his facebook status “home sweet home” implied. which also implies he was sent home for being FINE from whoever beat up. If there were to have been serious life threatening complications from the altercation then ww would not have left the hospital. HEARSAY also is saying he had been threatening suicide that very day they found him unresponsive…. also zanex withdrawals alone can kill somebody. everyone undertsands the feeling of loosing a loved one and every one knows how it feels to just look for the reason and point fingers but there is a lot of things involved that ignorance is making alot of people blind too.
But with a head injury, there can be multiple things that can go wrong, even after receiving the injury. A blood clot, brain bleed, or aneurysm.
What’s wrong here is that some people are blind to the fact that a criminal that recently got out of jail beat this kid to a pulp. And Yes, the injuries he sustained that night certainly could have caused issues later. Flores needs to be arrested and put in prison. Anyone can argue that the attack didn’t kill this kidz, but Flores is still responsible for the attack on him.
cat scans would have been taken at the hospital, if there was bleeding in the brain they wouldnt have sent him home.
A blood clot, or brain bleed or aneurysm cannot be predicted by a CT scan. An aneurysm and blood clot are instantaneous.
No matter how this poor kid passed away is not the only issue, yet. The issue is he was attacked and beaten. And WHY is the attacker who everyone in this town knows who it was……Val Flores, still not arrested for the assault. He was bragging about it on twitter. He should be sitting in jail waiting until the autopsy is completed, which could take weeks, as he is responsible for attacking and beating William. C’mon Mason City Police, do your job and arrest this guy.
if they haven’t arrested someone for an assault then that probably means there isn’t enough evidence to prove who beat up William, it is sad but he had so many drugs in his system they stated he was delusional at the time of the assault.
The young man was beat up late Saturday night into Sunday morning. He was sent to Mercy North Iowa and eventually Iowa City and had his jaw wired shut as it was broken- unknown why he was sent there??
I would wait until the autopsy results to accuse anyone of any crime- he was beat up, but many people get beat up daily and survive. Could be head trauma, could be accidental overdose of prescription medication due to extreme pain.
Either way a young man lost his life for a reason that could have been prevented.
John how do know about drugs being found in his sleeping room unless you were there. Not much secrecy in this town either.
And this is way we can’t ever never have nice thing’s.. In Mason that is. Just saying.
There are always about 10 sides of a story and if you really knew this kid and his buddies you would know what the true story is. No use to blame people but when you live the fast and furious life style he was and the people he was running with you can guess the out come.. Its too bad this young man had to leave us so early but there is a reason for everything. I don’t think NIT should post anything until it is released as to how he really did pass away.
Too bad MC doesn’t have a nuisance family ordinance. Another sh!t apple from the sh!t tree. RIP WW
Exactly. There are too many families in this town that are trash, criminals and then they have kids and the kids turn into trash criminals. The cycle never seems to be broken. The victim here was a decent kid. The attacker has served jail time before and needs to go back. Prayers to the family of WW.
I’m sorry that a young man has passed, but take into consideration the drugs and paraphernalia that was removed from the room of the house he was staying in. Not saying that his passing was only drug related, but they certainly didn’t help his situation any. This is why we don’t mess with drugs, kids.
I am wondering if the local police want the bartenders to handle this. Surely they won’t want to get out of their cars. I am also wondering if this was within 1500 feet of Burke’s Bar, ifnitbeas then that bar could be in trouble
why is our police and media keeping this quiet? Everyone should be made aware of what happened!
The police are not saying anything because they need to make a case that will stick. Just think what would happen if they blabbed everything they heard and it was false. I’m sure that as soon as they make a case, you will find out what’s going on. The same goes for the media.