In the late summer of 2026, the community of Boone, Iowa, was shaken by the tragic death of 66-year-old Ronette Adams Bonnell. A beloved mother and a vibrant presence in her community, Ronette's life was cut short on August 31, 2026, in what was later determined to be a homicide. The events of that day unfolded at a residence on 15th Street, where police were initially called to investigate the report of a deceased male.
Upon their arrival, officers discovered not one, but two bodies inside the home. The deceased were identified as Ronette Bonnell and Gregory Evenson.
As the investigation, with assistance from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Medical Examiner's Office, progressed, a grim picture of the final moments in the Boone home began to emerge. Authorities concluded that Ronette Bonnell's death was a homicide, and the suspect in her killing was Gregory Evenson, who subsequently took his own life. The case was officially ruled a murder-suicide, bringing a somber close to the investigation and leaving a wave of grief and unanswered questions in its wake. This conclusion meant there would be no arrest or trial, as the sole suspect was also deceased.
Ronette was remembered as a woman with a zest for life, a gifted hairstylist who ran her own in-home salon for over 40 years, and a devoted single mother to her three children. Her sudden and violent death at the hands of her husband, whom she had married less than two years prior, left her family and friends in profound shock. The incident stood in stark contrast to the public image of the couple, who were seen just days before the tragedy enjoying a meal together. The case serves as a heartbreaking reminder of the hidden complexities within relationships and the devastating impact of domestic violence.
