ESTHERVILLE — A Northern Iowa pair accused of luring an unsuspecting man from his apartment before violently attacking him now faces felony prosecution in Emmet County, although one defendant has formally raised a claim of self-defense.
Josephine Townsend Cole of Armstrong and Michael Paul Ellison of West Bend are each charged with willful injury causing serious injury, a Class C felony, following an alleged February 26, 2026, assault in Estherville.
Estherville police were dispatched to Apartment No. 3 at 9 South Ninth Street at approximately 5:13 p.m. Officers arriving at the residence reportedly encountered a man bleeding from his mouth and suffering from several facial injuries.
Police called the Estherville Ambulance Service to treat the injured man.
According to investigators, the alleged victim identified Cole and Ellison as the people responsible and reported that they had fled in a gray minivan, possibly headed toward Armstrong or Algona. That information was relayed to surrounding law-enforcement agencies.
Police allege Cole and Ellison lured the man outside his apartment before Ellison assaulted him. Authorities described the man’s facial injuries as severe, and an ambulance transported him to Avera Holy Family Hospital for treatment.
Kossuth County sheriff’s deputies later stopped the minivan and took Cole and Ellison into custody. Both initially remained in Kossuth County to answer charges reportedly arising from that traffic stop before being transferred to Emmet County.
A judge issued arrest warrants for both defendants and initially set bond at $5,000 cash only. No-contact orders were also entered in both cases. Court records indicate both defendants later posted surety bonds.
Cole entered a written plea of not guilty on April 6. Her next pretrial conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. August 11, with a jury trial scheduled for 9 a.m. September 15.
Ellison entered a written plea of not guilty on March 20 and demanded a speedy trial, although he later filed a waiver of that right. His attorney filed a notice of justification based on self-defense on May 22. Ellison’s next pretrial conference is scheduled for 11 a.m. August 11.
Cole’s case is filed under Emmet County case number FECR013551. Ellison’s case is FECR013550.
A Class C felony conviction in Iowa can result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years. The charges remain allegations, and Cole and Ellison are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The Estherville Police Department was assisted by the Emmet County Sheriff’s Office, Kossuth County Sheriff’s Office, Estherville Ambulance Service and Avera Holy Family Hospital.