Iowa man accused of murdering his grandma

DES MOINES – An Iowa man is accused of murdering his grandma, investigators say.

On June 26, 2018, co-workers of Cheryl Stowe contacted the Monona County Sheriff’s Office and requested that a welfare check be conducted at Cheryl Stowe’s residence because she did not show up for work that day. Monona County Deputies and Iowa State Troopers responded to the rural address of 13797 Oak Avenue, which lies between the towns of Ticonic and Castana, in North Central Monona County. Deputies and Troopers were not initially able to locate Cheryl Stowe at her residence.

On June 27, 2018, Monona County Deputies and Officers from the Iowa Department of Natural Recourses located a deceased body approximately 1.5 miles from Cheryl Stowe’s residence. The body was transported to the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office for a forensic autopsy.

The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office has positively identified the body as 66 year-old Cheryl Stowe and concluded that the manner of death was homicide.

On November 20, 2018, Eliot Stowe (age 21) was arrested and charged with First Degree Murder in Onawa, Iowa. Elliot Stowe is currently being held at the Monona County Correctional Facility under a one million dollar cash bond. Eliot Stowe is the grandson of Cheryl Stowe and resided at Cheryl’s residence during the time frame of the homicide.

This was a joint criminal investigation by the Monona County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office, the Monona County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office. Several agencies also provided assistance and support during the initial investigation to include the Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Mapleton Police Department, and Whiting Police Department.