In the quiet town of Winterset, Iowa, a young mother's life was tragically cut short on the night of Monday, May 27, 2019. Roseanna Otto, a 23-year-old Caucasian female, was found in her home, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. A certified nursing assistant with aspirations of attending nursing school, she was known by friends and family as a caring and outgoing person whose world revolved around her three young daughters.
The devastating discovery was made after her ex-boyfriend,
Jerome Moyer, entered her residence and shot her while her children were present in the house. Following the fatal shooting, Moyer fled the scene. Law enforcement quickly identified him as the primary suspect, and he was apprehended the next day following a traffic stop in Dubuque County.
An investigation into their past revealed a troubled history. Moyer had a documented history of domestic abuse against Otto, which had previously led to his arrest and restraining orders. He had also been convicted for breaking into another ex-girlfriend's home and threatening her with a knife, for which he received a suspended sentence.
In the wake of Roseanna's death, the community rallied around her grieving family, organizing fundraisers to support her three daughters, Alaina, Karli, and Skylar. Her family remembered her as an amazing mother and expressed their profound loss, wishing she had reached out for help regarding the escalating threats.
Jerome Moyer was charged with first-degree murder. In March 2021, a Madison County jury found him guilty of killing Roseanna Otto. The conviction carried a mandatory sentence of life in prison, bringing a measure of legal closure to a case that highlighted the devastating impact of domestic violence.
