ELMA, IOWA – A New Hampton man missing for months has tragically been found dead, and police have a suspect in custody.
On November 4, 2022, the New Hampton Police Department took a report of missing person Jonathan Henry Esparza. The New Hampton Police Department immediately opened an investigation. The Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was notified and assisted with further investigation.
A search warrant was later executed by the DCI and the Howard County Sheriff’s office.
On November 30, 2022, the Howard County Sheriff’s Office along with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation conducted a search warrant at 808 Main Street in Elma. The search warrant was conducted in furtherance of an Investigation into a missing person.
During the investigation and search warrant at 808 Main Street in Elma on November 30, human remains were located on the property. The remains were sent to the Medical Examiner’s Office and were determined to be that of Jonathan Henry Esparza.
As a result of this investigation, a charge of first-degree murder had been filed on 26-year-old Sayvonne Eugene Jordan in relation to this investigation.
This homicide investigation is still ongoing.
(Main photo, top: Jonathan Henry Esparza)
