MASON CITY – The following email chain is between an investigator with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) and NorthIowaToday.com Publisher Matt Marquardt, Thursday evening, July 28, 2016.
from: Matt Marquardt <northiowatoday@gmail.com>
to: manning@dps.state.ia.us,mortvedt@dps.state.ia.us
date: Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 2:04 PM
Good day. I’m not exactly sure who at the DCI to contact about this, and I had your email addresses in my contact book so I thought I’d start here. There are rumors in Mason City that the DCI has been investigating the death of Alex Kuhn. I understand you might be able to say little about this, but I would like to see if you can first of all confirm that this investigation is taking place. Second, I would like to know in general if you are interviewing folks, perhaps specifically persons who live in Mason City and even more specifically, elected officials in Mason City. Any details you can provide would be much appreciated, or if you can give me a contact person to continue with.
Thank you for your time
Matt Marquardt
NorthIowaToday.com Publisher
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Good afternoon Mr. Marquardt,
In regards to your email that I received below, I can provide you the immediate facts and circumstances with this investigation. I can confirm that on Friday, July 15 the DCI was requested by the Floyd County Sheriff’s Office to assist with a death investigation at 263rd Street in Marble Rock, IA. A deceased male was discovered at that location by a citizen that reported it to law enforcement. An autopsy was conducted and the individual was identified as Alex Kuhn and his death was ruled to be suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Respectfully,
Mitch Mortvedt
ADDED BY NIT: MAP
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 5:56 PM
Thank you Mitch. Is the investigation over or on-going?
Matt
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 6:14 PM
It is completed.
Mitch Mortvedt
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 6:16 PM
Thank you Mitch. Was Eric Bookmeyer, Travis Hickey or Gary Schmidt interviewed as part of the investigation?
Matt
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 6:26 PM
That is part of the investigative file and Protected from disclosure for reasons that include, but are not limited to, Iowa code chapter 22.7(5).
Mitch Mortvedt
INSERTED HERE BY NIT: Iowa code chapter 22.7(5)
Peace officers’ investigative reports, and specific portions of electronic mail and telephone billing records of law enforcement agencies if that information is part of an ongoing investigation, except where disclosure is authorized elsewhere in this Code. However, the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding a crime or incident shall not be kept confidential under this section, except in those unusual circumstances where disclosure would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger to the safety of an individual. Specific portions of electronic mail and telephone billing records may only be kept confidential under this subsection if the length of time prescribed for commencement of prosecution or the finding of an indictment or information under the statute of limitations applicable to the crime that is under investigation has not expired.
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 6:30 PM
I understand, sir. Was the DCI aware of any threats and or bullying toward Alex Kuhn leading up to his death, and did this raise any red flags with your investigation?
Matt
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Thu, Jul 28, 2016 at 6:31 PM
For any other information I will refer you to the previous email.
Thank you.
Mitch Mortvedt
END OF EMAIL CHAIN
NorthIowaToday.com continues to investigate this matter. Anyone with knowledge or information which could assist should email NorthIowaToday@gmail.com.
ROFLMAO at all the conjecture and conspiracy theories here, none of it with any basis in facts.
Kuhn took ALL his (REAL) motivation(s) for his suicide with him to his grave. Is it FAIR to SPECULATE what MAY have been going thru his mind when…???
There is only a few people knows what had been going thru Alex mind when he did it. I bet his folks are getting answers, hope they are anyways.
Anybody know, did his dad go see Todd Blodgett after it happened. We heard they did from our neighbor lady that is friends with Sharon Steckman to maybe find out why. The story on here said him and the Republitard was good friends. I about puked.
@ Larry, Alex and Todd Blodgett were very good friends. Alex was in Noon Rotary with me. Blodgett spoke to our luncheon last year. Before hand, I saw the two of them off talking in the bar at the Prime & Wine. I heard Blodgett was at the Kuhn’s home in Chuck town after the cemetery, this came from someone who was there. I do not know about any meeting between Alex’s dad and Blodgett.
ive worked for Henkel construction for 8 years!! I can assure you that Gary did not bully Alex
Just because you don’t know about it.. doesn’t mean it didn’t happen! Many very ugly things were going on ..
Do YOU have any evidence that it did happen? If someone closer to those two wasn’t aware, what evidence from tour faraway spot did you see? Other than your hope that it happened.
Are you kidding me? I’ve met that jerk once and the only thing Gary said to me was an extremely hurtful comment that I’m not repeating. I’d never ever done anything to him and he didn’t even know me at all but he made me feel less than a speck of crap on your shoe. He said it knowing it would hurt. If a man can do that to someone he’s never even met before, he’ll do that to anyone. I’d never trust a person like that. And I wouldn’t ever put it past him.
Any body hear what we did that is about a secret meeting that involve Bookmeyer and a Prestage big shot and a high up man over to Henkel’s, they decide to pay Henkel way more then Henkel was suppose to get. The way the pie was going to get cut would of put around $1 million in Kuhn’s pocket, but he would not go for it. This if it is true, it makes me think even more of the Kuhn boy. This thing needs to get looked in to I think.
Yes Lehigh, heard about that meeting. Also hear Alex told some people about it, alot of big money was on the table if he would of voted for the pigs. But in big stuff like this and one man already dead it is hard to get them that knows to talk.
My previous comment was directed to Peter L.
Well my comment is directed at you. Mess with me and u get throat punched with razor rings. So go take a dirt nap reaper. Not playing around with ur bully shit. U got something? Bring it.
This is NOT Peter L. The imposter strikes again.
HA HA HA HA HA
Ahhhh, conspiracy theories. Got to love them. Crawl back into your rat hole and take a nap.
Come face me angel if death. I got something for you.
HA HA HA HA HA
Good work. This doesnt mean the situation is resolved. It means they are falling back on state code jargon to throw off nosy journalists. A Freedom of Information Act request is the next step. Unless there exists an indisputable suicide message from Kuhn via audio / video recording or hand written letter in his script, or via password protected electronic communication, it could still be murder covered up to appear as suicide. The family needs to step up to the plate and deliver. Keep pursuing this, because bullying lawsuits or criminal charges are still possible. 2 year statute of limitations. Clock is ticking. Remember, DCI serves Branstad. Branstad serves BIG AG.
Why don’t you do the leg-work on this? You’re the super sleuth of North Iowa, so get crackin. Besides putting your online school house learnin to good use, you can impress your mommy and show her that all of your allowance money wasn’t wasted on fruits and vegetables since you’re a vegan and stuff.
Buzz how bout you STFU for a change?
Not Peter.
HAHAHAHA!!
Your post makes sense, also heard many murders are covered up with a claim of suicide, their body is cremated to hide evidence, is it possible the medical examiner made a mistake, Alex Kuhn was a functioning person with his whole life in front of him, I do not believe he would even entertain the thought of suicide, why would he, according to some because he was depressed and he also drank, if he was so disabled why did he have a job and was also a functioning city council member, are the council members given drug tests like the rest of the population, are they screened for mental health issues, in my view this all adds up to Alex Kuhn was murdered.
Why would Gary Schmidt listed with the other 2 as you did in your comments?
Because he is the President of Alex’s employer and treated him like you know what after he voted no on the Prestage plant.
How do you know how Gary S. treated him? And if he treated him poorly, why wouldn’t he have fired or demoted him?
If he treated Alex so poorly, why was he an honorary casket bearer? I believe we best honor Alex’s memory by not making sweeping statements without true knowledge.
I agree for the most part..but I have info. All of it is because of the Prestage vote. Same reason the mayor bullied him mercilessly. And Henkel wanted the building contract..may Alex now be at peace !
If you have such great “info” then whey don’t you just say it here or take it to the authorities?
Sounds like someone doesn’t want the info known. Looks like Matt has reached a dead end.
There is so much more out there, but, it may do more harm than good to let it all out.