News : Truesdell Judge: "His Unfathomable acts have caused immeasurable pain and loss"

Romondus "Ro" Cooper, Amanda Parker, Keonna Ryan and Brent Brown

Three life sentences served consecutively plus 50 years - no parole.

Recap

Luke Truesdell was the man charged with the beating deaths of Romondus "Ro" Cooper, Amanda Parker, Keonna Ryan and Brent Brown in Hiawatha on June 5, 2024. Truesdell was sentenced on Friday afternoon. He was originally charged with four counts of first-degree murder, but was found guilty by a jury of only three counts of first-degree murder and one count of second-degree murder in November of 2025.

Hearing for a Re-trial

Judge Elizabeth Dupuich, opened the hearing in the Linn County District Court with a motion from the defense for a new trial dated December 22, 2025, and an "arrest of judgment" (to halt the judgment) dated January 27, 2026.  She allowed the three attorneys for Truesdell to give their arguments and the state to rebut the arguments. 

The defense cited Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.24 subsection 3 implying that Truesdell did not receive a fair and impartial trial aka due process had been tainted in some manner. 

They first cited the judge's "incorrect pretrial ruling on the defendant's motion to suppress." They said that it prevented him from self-incrimination by allowing the state to show video of Truesdell before he was Mirandaized allowing the jury to view 41 minutes of bodycam footage. They believe that even if the jurors were told to disregard it, they could not. The Iowa Supreme Court stated that, "A defendant's alleged confession represents probably the most prohibitive and damaging evidence that can be admitted against him and that confessions have a profound impact upon the jury, so much so that we can justifiably doubt its ability to put it out of mind even if told to do so." They explained that, "This footage was the only direct evidence of the defendant's guilt."

The lawyer continued that if the judge didn't allow a re-trial the court of appeals would.  

The second thing was a portion of investigator Egly's testimony created a verdict contrary to the weight of the evidence in the case. Next citing  cited Iowa Rule of Criminal Procedure 2.24 subsection 2(d) they said that the investigator testified over "multiple speculation objections that the dark figure seen...was Truesdell definitively." They argued that the grainy image could not be identified as fact and that Egly, an expert could. The video was shown in court, and was the same video that Egly had watched. The defense argued that if it was clear, the jurors could compare the video to the defendent in the courtroom on their own without being told the identity, so they were more likely to convict. 

The state submitted an written argument and stated that they only presented what was agreed to and what they were permitted to show. The state said that the jury had even more footage to view that was not shown in the courtroom. The opinion formed by the investigator they said, was formed from the entirety of the video captured. 

The judge explained that a new trial would be granted if the verdict is contrary to the law or the evidence or if it is contrary to the weight of the evidence causing a miscarriage of justice and she determined that this was not the case here. She further stated that the overwhelming amount of credible evidence supported the prosecution and the verdict was not contrary to the weight of the evidence. 

In the second request. "the arrest of the judgment," the court could not because of the weight of the evidence being sufficient for the jury to find the defendant guilty.

Both were denied.

Final Statements from the State

The judge addressed the defendant concerning the conviction from the jury on November 17, 2025. She stated that he had been found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder, and one count of second-degree murder and that he was there to be sentenced.

The judge moved on to hearing statements from the state concerning the sentencing. The state requested three life sentences, without the possibility of parole, and one indeterminate 50 year sentence with a 70% mandatory minimium all to be served consecutively...one after another, ensuring that Truesdell would spend the rest of his life behind bars. 

They went on to say serving them consecutively is symbolic of the four lives lost in the most brutal of cases that they've seen. The state feels like to serve them consecutively (all at the same time) would minimize the seriousness and loss of each individual life.

The defense had no other statements on this issue. 

Victim Impact Statements

For nearly an hour, victim impact statements were made by the family members and on behalf of the statements.

Amanda's sister, Sarah Parker, shared that because of the age gap between the two, she taught Amanda things like how to tie her shoes, fix her hair, apply makeup and she said that Amanda was not only her sister but her best friend. Sarah shared that she loved Amanda very deeply and never imagined living her life without her. The two called each other multiple times a day or texted sharing silly songs, memes or just a thought.

She remembered the last day that she had seen her sister her alive, and that was on Mother's Day of 2024. The last selfie and message she received from Amanda was on June 5, 2024, the day she was killed. She was getting ready for work and sent the photo along with a message saying, "Tell the twins that I love them too. I love you sissie."  Joy, sunshine and humor is what she will be remembered for. "She was always trying to make someone laugh," Sarah said and Amanda would show up for the ones she cared deeply about and she was loyal to those she loved. Sarah went on to share that while Amanda didn't have children of her own, she loved her nieces and nephews very much. 

She said that the family is so devastated that she was the only one able to speak on Amanda's behalf. She shared the struggles she's facing because of this loss as well as the struggles of the various family members. 

She granted forgiveness to Truesdell, but said that the crime had ripple effects that will continue for the families and this crime deserves accountability. 

The judge thanked all of the family members who came to share their thoughts and feelings. Saying that there is no rational reason that can make sense of this crime. She encouraged the families to not seek for a why. She said that seeking an explaination only gives more power to the offender "whose acts do not earn him the spotlight... but rather removal from society, through perpetual imprisonment, which is what's going to happen now."  She also thanked the attorneys and court staff in the case before moving on to sentencing. 

Sentencing

She sentenced Luke Truesdell to three terms of "life imprisonment, without parole eligibility." For the fourth case of second-degree murder, she sentenced him to not more than 50 years with 70% to be served before he is eligible for parole.

He will serve his sentences consecutively to one another with three terms of mandatory life imprisonment without parole, and a 50 years term. He is to pay restitution to the estate of each victim in the amount of $150,000, Crime Victim Compensation Program, court costs, and court appointed counsel fees. He must provide a DNA profile. The state asked that all monies to go directly to the families.

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