CENTERVILLE, IOWA – An Iowa man who allegedly inflicted fatal injuries upon a young girl he was babysitting is now facing first-degree murder for her death.
On May 22, 2024, the Johnson County Medical Examiner’s Office (JCMEO) released the final findings from the autopsy of Journey Marberry. The JCMEO ruled that Journey’s death was the result of a homicide caused by blunt force trauma. On Saturday, January 27, Journey succumbed to her injuries and served as a donor to aid other families.
At approximately 12:30 p.m., members of the Iowa State Patrol tactical team arrested 48-year-old Roger Gillespie (pictured above) of Centerville on a warrant for Child Endangerment Causing Death, a class B felony. Gillespie, who was Journey’s caretaker at the time of her injuries, was taken into custody without incident.
In light of the autopsy findings, law enforcement filed an additional charge against Roger Gillespie on May 23. Initially charged with Child Endangerment Causing Death, Gillespie now faces the charge of Murder in the First Degree, a Class A felony. He was advised of the charges while in custody at the Appanoose County Jail, where he has remained since being arrested on January 27.
