NAYZE MEDIA

32-year old, Steven Vogel, from Iowa was convicted of first-degree murder by a jury on Tuesday. Vogel had been charged with the murder of Michael Williams. A black man whose body was found burning in a ditch last year, according to a report from NBC NEWS.

MICHAEL WILLIAMS

Three other people were also charged in the murder of Michael Williams. Vogel’s mother was one of three people charged with abuse of a corpse and accessory after the fact. Those cases are pending.

Authorities said that before Williams’ body was set on fire, he was most likely strangled. Williams was allegedly in a relationship with a prior girlfriend of Vogel’s. Williams’ family believes the murder was racially motivated though.

Steven Vogel, 31, of Grinnell. Vogel has been charged with one count of murder in the first degree, a class A felony and Abuse of a Corpse (a Class D felony). Vogel is currently at the Marshall County Jail, where he was already in custody on unrelated charges. Also arrested were 55-year old Julia Cox, 57-year-old Roy Lee Garner, and 29-year-old Cody Johnson, all of Grinnell. https://dps.iowa.gov/criminal-charges-announced-grinnells-michael-williams-homicide-investigation CR: Iowa Department of Public Safety

Authorities say that after Vogel killed Williams, he wrapped the body in cloth and plastic. Afterward, he enlisted a few others to help him take the body to a ditch, east of Grinnel. Firefighters found Williams’ burning body a little before 6pm.