ANKENY – An Iowa woman was found stabbed to death, and police quickly zeroed in on her alleged murderer.
The Ankeny Police Department has charged Johnson Chayee Browne of Ankeny with Murder in the First Degree after responding to a welfare check at a residence in the 1000 block of NE Crestmoor Place.
Around 8:53 a.m. on Jan. 5, 2026, officers responded to a welfare check at 1010 NE Crestmoor Place, Unit 201. When officers arrived, they found a deceased adult female inside the residence with an apparent stab wound.
Through investigation, Ankeny Police Detectives identified Johnson Chayee Browne of Ankeny as the suspect, and he was charged with one count of Murder in the First Degree. Browne and the victim knew each other.
At the time Ankeny Police became aware of the deceased victim, Browne was already in custody in the Polk County Jail. This custody stemmed from an Ankeny Police arrest on Jan. 4 around 5:30 p.m. when officers were dispatched to a call of a suspicious male attempting to break into a vehicle. Officers arrived on scene, located Browne, who became combative and was subsequently arrested for Assault on a Police Officer and for Interference with Official Acts causing bodily injury. Browne was taken to Polk County Jail at that time on those charges.
There is no threat to the public. This remains an active investigation. The identity of the victim will be released at a later time. Browne remains in custody at the Polk County Jail. No further information is available at this time.
Anyone with information related to this incident is encouraged to contact the Ankeny Police Department.