March 28, 2024

Man accused of beating to death grandmother takes plea deal

COUNCIL BLUFFS — A man accused of beating to death his grandmother in western Iowa’s Council Bluffs has been sentenced to 50 years in prison.

Court records say 30-year-old Jacob Heyer pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree murder. Prosecutors lowered the charge from first-degree murder in exchange for Heyer’s plea.

Heyer was arrested in August 2018 for the assault of 71-year-old Karen Fort.

She died within a month, and his original charges were raised.

Heyer’s grandfather told officers that Heyer had said Fort tried to kill him.