On the evening of February 21, 2021, the quiet of Dow City, Iowa, was disturbed by a tragedy that would end the life of 46-year-old Jeremy Frank, a White male. The events of that night began to unfold around 9:15 p.m. when the Crawford County Sheriff's Office received an anonymous tip from a citizen concerned for a friend's welfare. Responding to the call, deputies arrived at 504 East Fulton Street, where they discovered Jeremy Frank bleeding and unresponsive.
Medical assistance was immediately sought, and Frank was transported to the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, but he was ultimately pronounced deceased. An autopsy would later confirm that he died from a single gunshot wound.
The investigation into Frank's death quickly focused on his live-in girlfriend, 44-year-old Beth Guzman. What emerged was a story of a domestic dispute that had escalated to a fatal conclusion. Earlier that day, Frank and Guzman had been involved in an altercation at his workplace in Denison. Following the argument, Guzman returned to their shared home in Dow City, where she armed herself with a handgun and awaited his return. When Frank arrived, another argument ensued. Guzman admitted to investigators that she shot at him multiple times as he tried to leave the bedroom and the house, striking him once. She also confessed to hiding the weapon and altering the crime scene. Despite being wounded, Frank managed to get to his vehicle and drive a short distance before he was found.
In the wake of the shooting, Beth Guzman was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. She initially pleaded not guilty to the charge. However, she later pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. A judge sentenced her to 50 years in prison for the killing of Jeremy Frank. As part of her sentence, Guzman is required to serve a minimum of 35 years before being eligible for parole and was also ordered to pay $150,000 to Frank's family.
