Gregory Allen Showalter, 63, of Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, United States previously lived in Burnsville, Minnesota, USA. Aside from Ottumwa, he has lived in other parts of Iowa including Cedar Rapids.
Showalter was 7 months older than Helen Elizabeth Showalter. They got married in 1981.
On July 31, 2021, Helen was killed at a job site on Pennsylvania Avenue in Ottumwa allegedly by Gregory while two were in the process of divorcing. She was 60.
After killing Helen, Gregory allegedly dumped her body into the Cliffland River Access area of the Des Moines River. On August 1, 2021, a civilian saw her body floating in the river.
On August 3, 2021, Gregory turned himself in to police. On August 17, 2021, Judge Myron Gookin allowed Gregory to post only 10% of his $250,000 bond required that he be subject to global positioning monitoring.
On August 18, 2023, Gregory posted bond. He was represented by Robert Breckenridge.
On September 20, 2023, Gregory testified during his murder trial at the Wapello County Courthouse in Ottumwa. At 3:15 p.m. on September 21, 2023, jury deliberations began.
At around 1:10 p.m. on September 22, 2023, a jury read a verdict and he was found guilty of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, willful injury causing serious injury and domestic abuse assault impeding air/blood flow causing bloody injury. At around 1:30 p.m., he turned off his phone, cut off his ankle monitor and left his residence on foot.
By 2:30 p.m., the Wapello County Courthouse began to proceed despite Showalter’s absence. Judge Daniel Wilson ordered the verdict still be read.
At around 9:45 a.m. on September 23, 2023, Ottumwa Police Department officers arrested Gregory at his residence in Ottumwa. Sentencing was set for 1:15 p.m. on October 16, 2023.
CONAN Daily 