Sarah Anne Zoelle was a 31-year-old mother described by those who knew her as a beautiful soul who touched people in a meaningful and non-judgmental way. A White woman from Sioux City, Iowa, she had previously worked at local businesses where she greeted everyone with a contagious smile and kindness. More recently, she was a dedicated stay-at-home mom to her three young children.
Her family said her loving impact would be carried by all those she had so graciously touched.
On the night of Saturday, January 14, 2023, Sarah made a frantic call to 911 from her home on Nebraska Street. At around 9:49 p.m., she pleaded for help, telling the dispatcher that her boyfriend, Austyn Self, was pointing a gun at her. The call took a horrifying turn when the dispatcher heard a sound consistent with a gunshot, followed by Sarah’s screams. Self then allegedly got on the phone and told the dispatcher, "I shot her," adding that he would put the gun down when police arrived.
When officers entered the residence, they found a devastating scene. Sarah was suffering from a single gunshot wound to her abdomen while still holding her six-month-old infant in her arms. Two other children, ages four and five, were also present in the home but were not physically injured. Emergency responders rushed Sarah to a local hospital, but she was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Her obituary described her death as a "domestic violence homicide."
Police arrested 23-year-old Austyn Self at the scene. He was charged with first-degree murder for Sarah’s death and three counts of felony child endangerment due to the presence of the children during the shooting. Self was booked into the Woodbury County Jail and pleaded not guilty to the charges in February 2023.
The case proceeded to a bench trial, where a judge hears evidence and decides the verdict without a jury. In August 2024, the judge found Austyn Self guilty of first-degree murder and all three counts of child endangerment. Following the conviction, Self faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. As of August 2024, a date for his sentencing hearing had not yet been set.
