March 28, 2024

Rogers charged with first-degree murder

The woman authorities have been seeking in connection with the death of a man whose body was discovered in a car parked in a Newton apartment complex parking lot has been arrested.

Tuesday evening, detectives with the Colorado Springs Police Department's Violent Crimes Section received a probable cause warrant, charging 21-year-old Bionca Rogers of Iowa City with first-degree murder. Earlier in the day, the body of 61-year-old Grant Frazier had been found in the trunk of his car, which was parked in the parking lot at the Courtyard Apartments in Newton.

During the early morning hours of Wednesday, Rogers turned herself in to law enforcement in Cedar Rapids. She remains in custody in Linn County without bond, and officials in Colorado have announced they are seeking extradition from Iowa.

An investigation continues, involving elements of the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Newton Police Department, the Iowa City Police Department, the Cedar Rapids Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Officials in Colorado said it remains unclear if Rogers acted alone.

The cause of Frazier's death has not yet been released, pending the outcome of an autopsy.