WATERLOO — More than 31 years after turtle hunters discovered a Waterloo woman’s body beside a rural creek, investigators have arrested a Minnesota man and charged him with first-degree murder.
Kelly Grant (pictured at top), 59, of Bertha, Minnesota, was arrested October 16, 2026, in connection with the death of Angela Renee Buck, 37, whose body was found east of Waterloo on August 11, 1995.
The arrest follows decades of investigative work by local and state authorities in a homicide that remained unresolved for more than three decades.
Turtle hunters discovered Buck’s body near bridge
At approximately 10:40 a.m. on August 11, 1995, the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office received a report that turtle hunters had found a body in the 900 block of Pilot Grove Road.
Responding deputies located a deceased woman along the creek bank on the east side of the bridge. Authorities later identified her as Buck.
An autopsy by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined she died from a gunshot wound. Her death was classified as a homicide.
Decades of leads culminate in arrest
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office continued investigating Buck’s death with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office and the Iowa Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Unit.
Authorities said investigators pursued numerous leads over the years in their effort to identify the person responsible.
On October 16, Black Hawk County deputies and Iowa DCI agents arrested Grant with assistance from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and the Todd County Sheriff’s Office.
Officials have not disclosed what evidence led to the arrest or described any relationship between Grant and Buck.
Sheriff credits original investigators
Black Hawk County Sheriff Nate Neff credited both the agencies involved in the arrest and the deputies who worked the homicide when it was first reported.
“This is a great example that highlights the cooperation and tenacity of multiple agencies working together to bring closure to a case that is over 30 years old. I would also like to credit the retired deputies who originally worked this case. This arrest would not have happened without their efforts,” Neff said.
Murder investigation remains open
Grant faces a charge of first-degree murder in connection with Buck’s death. The sheriff’s office said the investigation remains ongoing and no further details were being released.
The announcement did not provide information about bond, an initial court appearance or extradition proceedings.
Grant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.