DES MOINES – On September 25, 2013, the body of Kerry Jefferson was found inside her residence at 104 Harmon Street, Tama, Iowa. The body was discovered after Tama Police arrived at the residence to make an arrest of a subject on an unrelated matter. Dr. Dennis Mallory, Tama County Medical Examiner, arrived and determined the death was suspicious and the DCI was subsequently called in for assistance.
Later that day, information was obtained from a witness indicating Ginger Jefferson, age 57, was possibly involved with the death of Kerry Jefferson, her daughter-in-law. Later that day, Ginger Jefferson was arrested as a material witness and was held in the Tama County Jail.
On the morning of September 26, 2013, an autopsy was conducted by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny, Iowa. Dr. Jonathan Thompson performed the autopsy and it was determined that Kerry Jefferson’s cause of death was from sharp force injuries to the neck and the manner of death was determined to be a homicide.
Following consultation with Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office and the Tama County Attorney, Brent Heeren, it was determined probable cause existed to obtain a warrant for the arrest of Ginger Jefferson. Ginger Jefferson was arrested on Friday morning and charged with Murder in the First Degree for the death of Kerry Jefferson. She will make her initial appearance on Friday afternoon in Tama County District Court.
Agencies involved with the investigation include: Tama Police Department, Tama County Sheriff’s Office, City of Toledo Police Department, Meskwaki Nation Tribal Police Department, Tama County Medical Examiner’s Office, Tama EMS, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office.
