MASON CITY – A murder trial for a Marshalltown man accused of shooting a man in the head over a drug deal gone bad and then mutilating the corpse is now being held in Mason City.
Jeremy Allan Gartin, 30, has been held in the Cerro Gordo County Jail since December 9th, charged with first degree murder, first degree theft and abuse of a corpse.
According to the Marshalltown Times-Republican, Gartin shot a 59 year-old Iowa man, David Warnell, in the head when the Warnell failed to deliver enough meth to him. Gartin then allegedly attempted to remove identifying fingers, tattoos and teeth. Warnell’s body was discovered at Gartin’s home.
The prosecution’s star witness, Max E. Nelson, age 56, was on the stand Friday. Nelson claims to have witnessed the murder of Warnell, his own cousin, and saw Gartin attempt to cover up the crime. Nelson allegedly has been a drug informant, and himself stands accused of mutilation of a corpse, first degree theft, and accessory to a felony in this crime.
Gartin’s trial was moved to Cerro Gordo County after his attorneys requested a change of venue due to pretrial publicity, the Times-Republican reported.
Gartin has plead not guilty. The jury trial began Wednesday.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.
SUBJECT IS INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY
