In Clinton, Iowa, on April 18, 2025, the community was shaken by the tragic death of Shelly Ann Leab, a 52-year-old Caucasian female. Authorities discovered her body inside her home on Pershing Boulevard after responding to a request for a welfare check around 12:30 p.m. Alongside her was the body of 57-year-old Brian Keith Witherspoon, also a resident of Clinton.
Subsequent autopsies performed by the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner revealed the grim details of the event.
Leab's death was ruled a homicide, the result of multiple gunshot wounds. Witherspoon's death was determined to be a suicide from a single gunshot wound. Investigators have described the incident as a murder-suicide and have indicated that there is no ongoing threat to the public. It was later confirmed that Leab and Witherspoon had been formerly engaged.
The loss of Leab, a well-known local business owner and realtor, was deeply felt by those who knew her. She was remembered as a beloved figure in the community. In the wake of her death, friends and community members gathered for a candlelight vigil to honor her life and legacy. Leab was actively involved in community initiatives, including organizing a grief support group and a "Ride for Recovery" event to raise awareness about substance abuse and mental health, a cause she championed after the death of her son.
