Woman-beater to stay in prison till he dies

DES MOINES – A man serving a life in the Iowa State Penitentiary won’t be coming back to Mason City anytime soon, as he lost an appeal this week.

Warren Purvis, age 60, appealed his convictions for first-degree sexual abuse, willful injury resulting in serious injury, and domestic abuse assault impeding breathing or circulation of blood causing bodily injury. He was found guilty by a Cerro Gordo county jury in May of 2013 after an incident in December of 2012.

On December 23, 2012, a female victim and Purvis were in an intimate relationship and living together in the victim’s home. At some point in the evening, she posted a message on Facebook, stating, “Anyone, please call police and have them come to [her address]. Please help me now.” One of the victim’s friends called the police, and the police officers then proceeded to the address for a welfare check.

The police arrived to the victim’s home at approximately 6 p.m. Purvis answered the door when the police officers knocked. The officers testified they heard a faint female cry for help upon entering the residence. They found the victim in the back bedroom, lying in bed. She had bruises and marks on her face and chest. The victim told one of the officers Purvis had physically and sexually assaulted her. She said Purvis had strangled her and bit her. She told officers she thought she had lost consciousness twice. The police called the paramedics, who then transported the victim to the hospital in the ambulance. It was later determined she has long-lasting injuries including dizziness, post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), limited use of one of her hands, and partial loss of hearing in one ear.

As one of the officers talked with the victim in the bedroom, another talked with Purvis in the living room. The officer did not advise Purvis of his Miranda rights. Purvis was not placed in restraints or told he was under arrest. Purvis sat on the living room couch as he talked with Officer Eernisse. They spoke for approximately ten minutes before a taking a short break. Purvis and Officer Eernisse then spoke for approximately thirty minutes more. Purvis admitted to Officer Eernisse that he fought with the victim and that he slapped her a couple times. Purvis told the officer he and the victim had consensual sex even though they had been fighting. During the questioning, Purvis told the officer he had taken twenty Lortab pills because he wanted to kill himself. The officers called an ambulance, and Purvis was transported to the hospital.

Purvis was examined at the hospital at approximately 7:20 p.m. by Dr. Singh. The doctor noted Purvis was drowsy, but that he could talk and was capable of being alert. He was able to answer the doctor’s questions. Dr. Singh noted a “very minimal” odor of alcohol emanating from Purvis. Lab results showed his blood alcohol content was .073 and urine drug screen results showed he had opiates in his system. Dr. Singh testified the opiates would make a person drowsy. Purvis was released from the hospital at approximately 10:50 p.m.

After Purvis was discharged from the hospital, he was transported to the police station. Purvis was placed in an interview room and given water. He was not handcuffed or restrained. Purvis was read his Miranda rights and asked if he understood them. He acknowledged that he did. He was then told to read the waiver form, which listed the Miranda warnings.

Purvis signed and dated the form before talking with the officers.

Purvis was able to provide Officers Hugi and Kemna with biographical information, but he originally told officers he could not remember the events of the day. The officers continued talking to Purvis for approximately forty minutes. The officers then left Purvis in the interview room and “gave him a break.” Officer Eernisse, who had talked to Purvis in the home, then joined the other three in the interview room. Officer Eernisse reminded Purvis what he said during their discussion in the home. Purvis admitted he forced Pope to have sex with him after he physically assaulted her. The interview lasted for approximately thirty minutes. Purvis then agreed to provide a written statement, and the officers left the room.

Purvis filled out a cover form, which stated “This statement is freely and voluntarily given without promises, threats or coercion. . . ,” and signed his name. He handwrote a statement, which read, in part:

So I grabbed her by the throat and hit her several times. She grabbed my necklace and tore it off of me. So I bit her nose then she bit my arm so then I leaned on her throat with my forearm. Then I hit her in the chest about 3 or 4 times. Then hit her in the face a few times. Then made her have sex with me. After that I told her that I wanted to die. She said that she wanted to also. She took some pills and dumped the rest into my hand. I went to the fridge and got 2 beers and sat down on the floor. She called into work sick. Then I fell asleep, when I woke up I told her that the pills weren’t working. She said, “Take some of the Codine.” So I did. Then I fell asleep again. When I woke up, the police were knocking on the door. I regret doing that!

On January 4, 2013, Purvis was charged with first-degree sexual abuse, willful injury resulting in serious injury, and domestic abuse assault impeding breathing or circulation of blood causing bodily injury.

Purvis tried more than once to have his statements to police dismissed or not introduced in court, but he failed.

The jury found Purvis guilty of each of the three charges against him. Purvis filed a motion for new trial and a motion in arrest of judgment, which the State resisted.
On May 10, 2013, the district court denied Purvis’s motions. On the same day, Purvis was sentenced to serve a term of life imprisonment without parole for his conviction of first-degree sexual abuse. He was also sentenced to a term of imprisonment not to exceed ten years for willful injury resulting in serious injury and a term of imprisonment not to exceed five years for domestic abuse assault impeding breathing or circulation of blood causing bodily injury. The sentences were all ordered to run concurrently.