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Mason City Police investigate homicide

MASON CITY – Mason City police are investigating a possible homicide Tuesday morning after a woman was found unresponsive in an apartment.

Mason City police say they responded to 410 North Washington Ave at 12:40 AM concerning a report of suspicious activity.  Upon their arrival, they discovered the body of Sarah Dawn Winters, 40, who worked at the Country Club.  Winters was unresponsive and paramedics were called to the scene to administer treatment.  Winters was transported to Mercy Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.

Investigation into the incident has lead to the arrest of Aaron John Harris (pictured, bottom), 34, of 410 N. Washington Apartment 101.  Harris has been charged with 1st degree murder and is being held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail.  The investigation continues, police said.

Sources told NIT that a male resident of 410 N. Washington Ave. had apparently called the building manager, named Hilton, early Tuesday, saying, “I think I killed Sarah!”

When people started to show up at the house, a 14 year-old girl went inside the building and witnessed a man dragging a female down the steps by her ankles. “I was going to say ‘Hi’, but when I saw that the girl had blood coming out of her mouth, I didn’t say anything. I ran out to tell my mom what I saw.”

A witness entering the secured door of the apartment building saw the male dragging a girl out of his apartment. “There was blood coming out of her mouth,” said the witness.

A little while later, another witness saw this same male and a couple of his friends taking her back into the apartment and putting her on a bed.

A resident of the apartment building, who didn’t know quite what was going on because he had been sleeping, said “I have heard these two argue and fight in the past. One time the police were called and they came and escorted the female out of the building. The suspect was yelling at her before that to get out of his apartment and to leave. He was throwing her belongings into the living room.”

This same resident informed, “I had just got up and the Investigator told me that I needed to evacuate the building. I heard other investigators knocking on other doors telling the other residents the same thing. There are eight people that live in the house, I think. When I left, I asked one of the police officers what was going on. They told me that they can’t talk about it, but a very violent crime had happened.”

The apartment house located at 410 North Washington is owned by SHECHEM LLC with an address of 410 South Mitchell Street, Saint Ansgar, Iowa.

SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

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Who are the couple of friends that help carry back inside, they need to be in jail also would’nt you think?

I think police should re interview this guy who is a known thief,stalker,physcofrenic, druggie, and likes to smack his girl around not to mention he was the one who stabbed a guy in manly at the thirsty dog years ago. He’s very dangerous.

I can tell he’s lieing and knows more! What a shame!

The cops didnt even get the chance to interview this guy. They interviewed everyone in that building BUT HIM because he disappeared before the cops showed up. Guilty? I think so! He also lied in this interview. The 14yr old seen Aaron dragging her body DOWN the back stairs of the apt! Trying to Dispose? I think yes. Hey globe NOT a very good person to choose for your interview! It seems hes trying to protect himself,others and Aaron! Looser.

Interesting video! Maybe someone should ask this chris smith how he feels now about giving Aaron that beer that night and provoking the arguement fully knowing Aaron had issues!

Someone or some agency MUST make sure the 14 year old girl gets into long-term counceling NOW! She is also a victim of the crime. She is alive, and needs a lot of help processing what she saw, or it could ruin her entire life!

What really annoys me is that the officers didnt offer this 14 yr old counseling after just witnessing a murder!

The problem is that there is a 20-30 year old sub culture in this town that have absolutely nothing to do. They sit on their porches all day after sleeping until noon, walk over to Casey’s for some smokes and a Mountain Dew, check their mail box to see if their food stamps have arrived and do nothing else until night time. Then they go steal from their neighbors since they refuse to get a job. They have no education, no remorse and no guidance. They are simply moronic zombies with no real purpose in life. That is the majority of Mason City’s youth.

you HIT the nail right on the head!

Reality Check: I was ready to agree with you until I read your last sentence. Absolutely NOT correct! The majority of our youth here in Mason City are law abiding, upstanding citizens. Yes, there are a few too many who fit your description. But please don’t lump all of our youth into this category.

If any of you commenting do not know my sister or anyone in our family please DO NOT USE THIS for your own personal venting attacks on the city and or government in which you chose to live in.

My sister was taken from her family and daughter in a way she has not deserved!

PLEASE SHOW RESPECT.

iknow the 14 year old, she was going up to get her stepdad & came back down to that, she was not running around, just simply looking for her stepdad, & for the record, NIT was there first, they were the ones who called the police. thanks.

aaron was a kinda sweet hearted person, he was in a faze it was hard to get out of, he was an amazing singer, and awesome dance, sarah was a very pretty lady, may her family be blessed & all involved be blessed to, i cant imagine what that 14 year old is going through…

Could we all take a minute to stop blaming the neighborhood, the police, the city council and drugs, and think of the families of both individuals involved? Mental illnesses were involved and are real diseases that can affect anyone, regardless of where you live and who could have been there “to stop it.” Please take a moment to pray for all those affected, and then think before you put a comment on here that makes you sound ignorant.

Your information has failed you. Please get informed before shooting your mouth off in public.

I talked with her a couple of times on the bus and not only did she have GREAT outter beauty, her inner beauty was even larger. BE W/JESUS SARAH !

That was my mother and I am positive she is in heaven.

Bentley,
I am so very sorry for your loss and the loss of others whom your mother had the chance to know personally. My name is Mike and im sure you would not remember me. Your uncle Chad’s sister Kristin has been my girlfriend for many years. I was just informed of the tragedy an hour or so ago and again am deeply saddened with your loss of Mom.

Michael Reilly

I am so sorry for your loss. Your mother was a wonderful person,

Bentley!!

You do not know me, but I lived with your mom for 6 months in Costa Mesa. I just tonight found out of her passing. May God be with you and protect you always. From what Sarah told us, you two weren’t always closed but she loved you with all her being. She may not have always been the mother you deserved but she loved you with all her heart, and always carried a picture of you. Your mother LOVED to cook, tell stories, and LAUGH. She made my roommates and I her favorite “mush” which consisted of ground beef with cream of mushroom, corn, and mashed potatoes. I hope you always carry good memories you have of her inside. Much love!

Council Meeting are on the 1st and 3rd Tues of the month. They are held at the mason city library.

“2nd, the police and mayor and all those ppl are not going to do a damn thing until they are pushed to or DCI gets rid of them and brings in some ppl that will.”

Sorry old sock, DCI has no authority within the City of Mason City to interfere with Police operations. They investigate crime along with MCPD, and conduct their own investigations. But all they can do is report to the Attorney General of Iowa, who decides a course of action.

While you are at it, call in the FBI, CIA, NSA, and ATF to take over the PD. Give them a call and see what they say!

“When is the city going to try to do something about the north end!!!!!”

What should they do about it?

“Mason is a disgusting place to live – and growing more disgusting. Everyone hides in their house.”

For everybody hiding in their houses, I sure saw a lot of folks out and about. Driving, walking, and biking. All over the community. I saw folks mowing their lawn, washing windows, playing with their children, playing golf, checkers, pulling weeds, surfing the net on laptops, cooking dinner, sipping coffee, cleaning sidewalks, even walking puppies. Even a woman pushing a pram in the park! In other words, doing everyday normal stuff.

The sky is not falling. Do we need to be more alert to strangers in our neighborhoods? Sure. Do we need to panic? No!

“What we can do is be more of a positive influence, we can support each other instead of bashing and blaming.”

I copied this so folks could read it again from someone other than myself. It is quite good advice.

” They go around bullying people who speed or don’t wear their seatbelt, but when REAL crimes are being committed they’re pussy footing around everything.”

Traveling over the speed limit is against the law. It is a REAL crime. Reckless driving is also against the law. Drag racing up and down U.S. 65 and Highway 122 is against the law. Mowing your lawn into the street is against the law. It looks like garbage, and pollutes the storm sewer system, creating more cost for the City (read taxpayers). Jake braking is against the law. Dumping your trash onto our streets, into the lot at Kum & Go, and in private dumpsters is against the law. Altering the exhaust of your vehicle so that it creates more noise than it should is against the law.

They are all REAL crimes. I have never heard of a “fake” crime. That is because, there is no such thing as a fake law.

So Mrs. S, draw up a list of laws you desire the Mason City Police Department to ignore, and present it to the City Council next Tuesday evening. While you are at it, copy in the Attorney General of Iowa, the Sheriff of Cerro Gordo County, and Head of the State Police. Watch the responses you get. Good luck!

This is a domestic abuse that obviously got way out of hand. It has nothing to do with the north end or mason city as a whole. Domestic abuse happens all over not just Mason City but the entire country. Try being more of a positive influence yourself and stop “bashing and blaming”. Furthermore the Mayor or MCPD can’t keep constant tabs on everyone who raises their voice to their significant other.

Whoops, I used the wrong word, instead of REAL I mean SERIOUS. Better now? They shouldn’t ignore any crimes, but definitely need to step up their involvement in SERIOUS or VIOLENT crimes & maybe let someone slide going 4 mph over down the overpass.

We need to vote the judges and DA’s out as soon as possible! They are the ones who plead cases down and turn these thugs back out on the streets! The police DO arrest these criminals just to have our judicial system turn them loose again.

Thats because people don’t want to pay. Are judicial system is way under funded and thats how they save money.

Matt, why don’t you get “the mayor after midnight” Max Weaver involved . As a regular at city council meetings I heard Max say on three occasions he would get a city bus and drive it around the community after midnight with the mayor, council members, and staff. With the intent to show them the real community they live in. The mayor and some of the council members and staff only know their way to Hy-Vee, work, and their way out of town. At least that would be a start to a community dialogue.

great idea, drive them by the pharmacy, that is what we call a house in the neighborhood. opens about 3 in the afternoon and runs until 4am. lots of music and dancing in the alley, everyone welcome.

You bunch of dummas’s It is BUSH’S fault.

Thats right, blame others. If the farmer neglects to build a fence around the hen house and you see a fox go into the hen house and you do nothing to stop him, is it really the farmers fault?

Farmer to busy checking his mail box.

How is that Bush’s fault?! He’s in Beje, first of all. Second, obviously if you know Bushy you’re a tweeker and you probably should go to bed!

1st I would like to say, if every1 would stop talking about doing something, and do it this shit might stop.

2nd, the police and mayor and all those ppl are not going to do a damn thing until they are pushed to or DCI gets rid of them and brings in some ppl that will.

3rd, I lived on the northend yrs ago and it was getting bad then, it has done NOTHING but get WORSE, all those defending the northend \know this and can see but live there and are holding onto the hope that it will get better, its not going to unless you make it!

4th, IF you live on the northend and want this to stop in your area, call someone instead of locking your doors and doing the whole “it will never happen to me” stuff. IT WILL and then you will see. FIGHT BACK against the crime, the corupt PD, the corupt mayor..ALL of them!

So, I just called back up to the library and asked again- what time is city council meeting… same lady who answered 1st time and gave incorrect info ” laughed” saying there sure is a lot of inquiry today concerning council meeting and something bout it being talked bout on the Internet… so I say, 1st step – getting their attention.. 2nd step whoever can attend next Tuesday’s city council meeting and stand alongside more concerned cittizens asking these much needed questions, I’LL MEET YOU THERE!!!!

I was there and it was all locked up, we need correct information.

I was told next tues would be city council meeting… she didn’t realize dates on calendar that are blacked out as she put it were reserved for when the council has to call emergency council meetings…. if what is happening in mason city these past few months isn’t an EMERGENCY, I don’t know what is…

I wonder if they are a little afraid to face the public

Yet another crime that could have been prevented had the MCPD done thier job correctly the fo=irst time they had to deal with this couple. BUT yet again we lose another person to the “crime torn” northend of town. and ppl wonder y every1 is moving out of this town and it is going to hell in a hand basket. What do we need you ask??? I WILL TELL YOU, DCI needs to come in and get rid of these corupt PD officers and get some cops in here that aint afraid to battle these type of ppl and clean up the WHOLE town not just one spot where all the “richies” live! Just Sayin

You CANNOT blame the police for what a bunch of fighting meth addicts do. It’s when they release them that stuff like this becomes an issue. It’s time to stop wagging a finger in someone’s face for “petty” crimes when in reality those people need to be prisoned.

Hey Hey Still don’t know what your all stirred up about? “It’s just another isolated incident” Right Chief Lashbrook? ARE YOU LISTENING CITY COUNCIL??? MAYOR?????

my ? is there where other ppl seen helping carry this young lady can they also be charged?? should they be charged?? i say hell yes .. send a message that enough is enough all of this killing, rapes, breaking into homes needs to stop .. my heart goes out to the family of this young lady .. regardless if it was an abusive relationship he had no right to kill her .. sometimes it is easier said then done to get out of that kind of a relationship until u have been there dont judge her for not getting away b4 this happen .. i think the system failed her when they didnt take steps to keep this pos locked up in a mental hospital?? and how about his family y didnt they do more to get him the help he needed .. R.I.P. YOUNG LADY ENJOY UR LIFE NOW IN THE ARMS OF THE LORD

WOW! Sad, very sad.

Agreed. Nice voice and nice lyrics. It’s a shame.

I am tired of hearing how the north end should be destroyed and its full of deliquents and criminals… Most of us are law abiding citizens and are tired of the stigma living up here entails, it is not how most of us live…

Agreed—I live on the North End and my street is quiet, my neighbors are friendly and I consider this a safe place to live. As soon as something like this happens, people start to #1 freak out, #2 blame the North End, #3 say they need to move. Give me a break! Was this a random act of violence…NO. All 3 murders this year were cases of people who knew each other. Stranger on stranger violent crime—the type for which one might justify carrying a gun—is nearly nonexistent here. Everyone calm down and be rational. Or if you want to leave, leave…good riddance!

I’m tired of complainers…we need less whiners and more doers.

I called the library before I posted that info- the lady put me on hold to check when I inquired about meeting, few moments later I was given the info I posted… Hmmmmz

the wrong information from someone that should know…is this a way the citys trying to keep us out of the loop and to run this place even further into the shit hole? lets see how many people we can get to show up

It’s probably because Bookmeyer and his members are actually reading NIT. I would put money on it that they are scared to have people actually show up at the meetings.

Another suggestion: operation take back your neighborhood- go around your block, take the time to meet your neighbors- find out what kind of people live around you!! Exchange numbers, take turns ‘watching’ your block, homes you live in, children playing outside- start SNITCHIN’ and report any and all suspicious activity’s… send the message if the cops are incapable of doing their jobs, its very UNWISE to come into your territory- you’ll do it for them!! Nothing more frightening than a pist off mama protecting hers!!!!!

this would work if neighbors would open the doors. I have attempted many times to talk to my neighbors and, even if i catch them just coming home, they go in their house, lock the doors, and dont answer. everyones so scared of everyone else that we’re become a shut in community.

Great Place is hilarious.

City Council Meeting, tonight from 4-8pm in the Mason City Room of the PUBLIC library…. council meetings held 2nd Tuesday of the month

i stand corrected…thank you jojo1girl for the right information.

Well I will be working so won’t be able to make this one, but you can bet I will be at the next one.

What if some of these same professionals are some of the slumlords? Search the county property records.

That IS the legal thing to do. Any idiot who has watched CSI could tell you that.

Your right this town is going to shit and people are getting away with murder even if there’s enough evidence to put them away for ever. How are we going to solve this problem?? By not allowing it and as a community work together to keep this town safe. I mean neighbors, our law enforcedment, judges, attorney, doctors anyone living in this town take care of each other and drive out these crazy people threatening our community. We need to do it so our kids can grow up and be safe. Enough arguing about what should have been done and lets agree to do it NOW!!!

Jojo had a great idea and I for one am in. However I don’t know when they hold the city council meetings.

I think it would be good for the council as well.

I am sick of the crime in this town. I seems like it is just getting worse and worse. I will have my husband take me out and have me practice shooting the gun we have in our house. I will not be afraid to use it if someone one comes after me or my family. It is sad when it gets dark outside you have to stay in our homes. If anyone has ideas how we can turn things around I am willing to do my part. The police can only do so much I understand the but the judges and lawyers getting these people off time and time again dose it take a murder to keep someone one in jail? Oh I forgot that doesn’t even earn you time in jail. The guy that stabbed someone is out walking the streets, the guy with the sledgehammer is walking the streets and lets not forget the woman who was killed in Manly 6 months in jail wow unbelievable.

Hunter, if you are talking to me, I in NO WAY blame the victim. I feel very bad for her and her family, and would advise ANYONE living in a abusive relationship TO GET OUT. Dont be a victim.
I know there are cercomstances in all these cases, but nothing is worth you or your family getting hurt or die.

I say everyone who wants to stand for something and RE-CLAIM their neighborhoods ALL meet at next city council meeting… Arm yourselves with some facts- do little research documenting criminal activities that have happened.. it will be pretty hard to ‘blow off a large group of people asking the same questions’.. as a tax paying, law abiding citizen I believe I’m entitled to know what’s being (or as of lately, not being) done to ensure saftey of my family and friends and community I live in…

When are the city counsil meetings?

Seriously????? So I spelled council wrong, you’re pathetic.

City Council meets the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at the Mason City Room of the Public Library located at 225 2nd Street SE in Mason City.

The North End Partnership will meet Thursday, July 12 at 6:30 p.m at Grace Methodist Church, 200 14th St. NW. Bob Berggren, Parks and Streets Supervisor for the City of Mason City will talk about the Trees Forever grant program. Representatives from Neighborhood Services and the Mason City Police Department will also be present for discussions on neighborhood concerns. All North End residents are encouraged to attend!

Anonymous do you know at what time?

7PM

Why do women live with and around people who abuse them?? Get away, far away, nobody deserves this.

Let’s reframe the issue and ask why, as a society, we continue to blame victims.

The funny thing is you are all ignorant on blaming the north end for this incident. Yes a lot has happened in the north end but it has NOTHING at all to do with this. This just looks like a case of a boyfriend/girlfriend situation turned very ugly. They have obviously had previous domestic disputes. I feel very sorry for Sarah’s family; you don’t deserve to go through this.

410 NORTH wash so just to point out it DOES have something to do with the NORTH end. Just Sayin

I was starting to be friends with Sara. We had a lot in common. We wanted to make dinner and have spring roles and we talked about what she wanted to do like open a Thai Restaurant. I had a business degree and I wanted to help her. She was a beautiful person from being with her a short time and I’m shocked and deeply saddened that someone would ever hurt her. Such a beautiful person. Our mutual friend had told her to stay away from him. He was dangerous. I am not surprised this very sick mentally ill man killed her. I can’t believe from knowing his past mental history they let him out of 5 east.

How can all this keep happening right here in the cultural crescent of the midwest? Now its even a blue zone cultural crescent!

What do you mean he was Dr. Lala’s former tenant?

Those are not really Dr Lala apartments, it is a transition center for people coming out of drug rehab.

Dont’ forget to check the public Iowa Corporation database to check on corporate names and registered agents or reserving parties.

NIT once again you write the whole story. You are a great reporter. Crime is not only in the North End. It’s all over the city. The DCI is in town. Hopefully something will get done.

As you people criticize the Globe for not covering stuff, NIT missed a fatal accident this morning at Hanlontown. I guess there isn’t any sensationalism in the accident. Just want to report on the North End.

Is Hanlontown a suburb of Mason City? It’s not even in Cerro Gordo county. The problem with the Globe and KIMT is that they spend their $5 a month reporting budget on reporting news outside of Mason City and Cerro Gordo county. Spend a little time on some solid reporting from Mason City, the local city. Maybe then people would subscribe to the local paper.

The name of this web site is “NORTH IOWA Today”. Not Mason City Today.

Thank you Matt for your reply. Yes, I have seen all those great stories on NIT. You do a good job most of the time. I just get so annoyed when people replying on here always have to bash other media and other people and not even stick to the subject of the article. I believe in free speech, but sometimes it gets out of hand. And I know, I don’t have to read it if I don’t like it. And I feel really bad for the great people that live on the North Side. I sure hope it can be cleaned up soon and they can have their lives back.

i remember that. Youublished Gretchen’s name based on Facebook rumors before the whole family could be notified. Talk about sensationalizing

NIT can’t be everywhere at once.

Looks like a great place to live. 8 people, 14 year old running around at 1AM watching people drag dead people around. I wonder if there will be a vacancy so I can move my shit in?

I have never heard that more then 1 person was involved with this killing. Also never heard that a 14 year old was an eyewitness to the killing I would like to know where your got your information? Be cause they have not told the media about all this information.

Um, read the article again, High Speed! Everything “Great Place” mention in their post was taken RIGHT OUT OF THE ARTICLE NIT JUST POSTED! I think you should change your name to “CAPTAIN OBVIOUS”! NOT!

Criminals have no designated area that they live in, there’s just as much going on south as north. Plus, this was a few blocks from downtown, our city’s pride & joy. The word DOWNTOWN should have been in the headline. I feel so bad for the 14 year old that saw them dragging her body, scarred for life. Whoever was helping him drag the body should be arrested too. This is sick & the cops in this town need to stop being scared of the criminals!!! They go around bullying people who speed or don’t wear their seatbelt, but when REAL crimes are being committed they’re pussy footing around everything. I’m surprised they even made an arrest, oh wait this guy confessed to the landlord.

My prayers go out to the family of the victim. The one thing we can not do is blame a whole section of our town for the choices certain individuals make. What we can do is be more of a positive influence, we can support each other instead of bashing and blaming. When we move forward as a community creating a better atmosphere for our children and neighbors we will begin take pride in our city, the “North End” is part of that city! What are you doing to impact this community on a daily basis in a positive way?

410 N. Washington i would consider that more “downtown” than “north end”. watchout MC its spreading it will soon be at your door step!

Where is the Mayor and his pet council?? Put them in a unmarked private car and have them tour the North End after 11:00 PM and see if they are still oblivious after that. Don’t go in a police car as they know where those are. Just because you live in snob hills don’t think it won’t effect you.

Have them patrol in unmarked cars? Heck have the Mayor and the Council all move to that area and see for themselves. How long do you think they would live there before moving? LMAO

Really wish we could do something to help stop this !
and once again nit is right on top of things !

I have offered many times for the cops, mayor, council members to come to my house and they could see everything that they need to see. Was never taken up on that offer by anyone. They will do something if someone did something at or around there precious Park Inn. They need to remember that the internet is world wide and no one wants to come visit at a crime capital of the upper midwest.

What the f**k is going on here in good ole river city? Time someone gets out and becomes a Charles Bronsen. I’m PACKING

Is there anyway to bulldoze evrything north of the post office?

i live on the north end, i take your comment as a threat to me and my family. i would love to park that bulldozer in your ass right next to your head.

I too live on the north end and take offense to that comment.

I use to live on the north end of Mason City. I couldn’t get out of Mason City fast enough and moved several months ago. Mason is a disgusting place to live – and growing more disgusting. Everyone hides in their house. The roaming few come out at night to do their deeds.

So within this past 2 years how many murders, stabbings, shootings, and breakins has there been in this city. It is all mainly happening on the north end. When is the city going to try to do something about the north end!!!!!

BAD BAD LEROY BROWN town !!
Crime is on the upswing in MC just like it is in Chicago !

Wow, Matt! You’re the first to give us names and more facts on this incident. The Globe hardly has anything! Kudos!

actually KGLO was the first to have the info.

Actually, NIT was the first to be on scene & have the info! KGLO may have aired what little info they had but NIT reporter & photographer was on scene.

no worry, crime in the city is down!!

Yes, when I look across Mason City and hear of all he nice successful things going on there all I picture is “heaven” on earth. Surely Mason City is blessed with peace and tranquility.

only if you wear ear plugs to drown out the guns shots and screams.

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