Iowa Court Online

$500000 cash bond set for Greene murder suspect Petersen

ALLISON — The state on Friday officially leveled a first-degree murder charge against Thomas Petersen, 38, of Greene.

Petersen was in Butler County District Court for the first time since allegedly stabbing his wife to death on June 4. Judy Renee Petersen’s body was found in the couple’s home in June, but Petersen fled the state, according to law enforcement officials.

Authorities in South Dakota took Petersen into custody after a high speed chase that injured two sheriffs. Prosecutors in South Dakota dismissed their charges against Petersen, including attempted murder, so officials could bring him back to Iowa.

Judge Chris Foy told Petersen the purpose of the initial appearance was to inform him the state had initiated prosecution. Foy noted first-degree murder is a Class A felony, meaning a conviction would result in life in prison without parole.

Foy also set bond at $500,000, cash only. The intent, the judge added, was to acknowledge the nature of the alleged crime and to protect the community.

“These are very serious acts,” Foy said.

In some situations, the next legal step would be a preliminary hearing. Not in this case, Foy said, because the court has already determined probable cause exists to pursue prosecution.

Petersen appeared in orange jail clothing, including slip-on shoes. He was escorted by Butler County Sheriff Jason Johnson and was in handcuffs during his entire time before the judge.

No one was in the courtroom other than law enforcement officials and members of various media outlets. Assistant County Attorney Marty Petersen, no relation to the defendant, represented the state.

Thomas Petersen maintained eye contact with Foy during the 15-minute hearing but offered only short responses to the judge’s inquiries.

“Do you have any questions about the charge against you?” Foy asked.

“No, your honor,” Petersen said.

Foy approved Petersen’s request for a public defender, assigning the case to the office in Mason City.

A separate case involving Petersen is on hold, according to County Attorney Greg Lievens. Deputy Kiley Winterberg arrested Petersen for interference with official acts after an incident April 8.

According to the officer’s affidavit, he went to the Petersens’ home about 8:30 p.m. because Thomas, Renee and her stepson were arguing. By the time Winterberg arrived, Petersen was gone.

“ ... I called Mr. Petersen on his cell phone and told him three times not to return to the residence until 7 a.m. ... ,” Winterberg wrote.

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The Northwestern reporter

Notes on Iowa Reports, being chronological annotations of the decisions of the Iowa Supreme Court showing their present authoritative value as evinced by all subsequent citations by that court thereon, with parallel references to Northwestern Reporter, American Decisions, American Reports, American State Reports, and Lawyers' Reports Annotated (both series)

Digest of the decisions of the Supreme Court of Iowa, from the organization of the Court, in 1839, to the 35th Iowa Report, as embraced in the reports by Morris, Greene, Clarke, Withrow, and Stiles : with copious references to the statutes

Iowa State Courts, Iowa State Court Judges, William S. Kenyon, George Henry Williams, John Forrest Dillon, Donald Eugene O'brien, John Chalmers