In the quiet town of Hampton, Iowa, the life of Michelle A. "Shelly" Key, a 51-year-old Caucasian woman from Waterloo, was tragically cut short on December 13, 2015. What began as a response to a call about a suicidal individual soon unveiled a grim and violent scene at a residence at 621 1st St. NE. Inside, officers discovered Key, deceased from an apparent gunshot wound.
The investigation quickly turned from a potential suicide to a homicide, shattering the peace of the neighborhood.
The focus of the investigation landed on Key's boyfriend, 60-year-old Ronald Lee Rand, a resident of the Hampton home. Investigators determined that Key had been shot and killed by Rand in what was described as a domestic violence incident. Rand was arrested at the scene without incident and subsequently charged with first-degree murder.
Neighbors in the ordinarily quiet area expressed their shock following the incident, noting that while they would often see Rand working on his motorcycle, the residence was not known for any disturbances. The Hampton Police Chief stated that while officers had been to the house before for various reasons, he could not recall any prior incidents of domestic violence at that location. This event marked the first murder investigation in Hampton in over a decade.
Ronald Lee Rand was held in custody, and the legal process began. Following his arrest, he faced trial for the murder of Michelle Key. On September 16, 2019, a jury in Mitchell County found Ronald Lee Rand guilty of first-degree murder, bringing a legal conclusion to the tragic death that had stunned the small Iowa community.
