In the quiet city of Des Moines, Iowa, the life of Mark Hruska, a 35-year-old Caucasian male, was brought to a sudden and violent end on March 1, 2015. Hruska, a regional sales manager who was originally from Charles City, was found deceased in his home from multiple gunshot wounds. The ensuing investigation would soon focus on his next-door neighbor, revealing a dark obsession that culminated in tragedy.
The man responsible for Hruska’s death was his neighbor, Patrick William Kirwan,
then 31. Kirwan, an Army veteran who served a tour in Iraq, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. In the time leading up to the murder, Kirwan had developed a paranoid belief that Hruska was an FBI agent watching his house. More significantly, he harbored the suspicion that his girlfriend, Jennifer Kizer, was having an affair with Hruska, a claim for which no evidence was ever presented. This unfounded jealousy would prove to be the fatal motive.
On that Sunday in March, Kirwan went to Hruska's home and shot him multiple times with a Glock. 40 caliber pistol. After the shooting, Kirwan returned to his own home, showered, and went to a grocery store. He later confessed to Kizer's mother, prompting her to call 911. When police arrived, Kirwan surrendered peacefully, telling a dispatcher, "he is no longer with us." He admitted to the shooting, claiming he went over to ask Hruska for marijuana when Hruska "snapped" on him.
Patrick Kirwan was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During his trial in April 2016, his defense attorneys argued that his actions were driven by his mental health issues, including PTSD stemming from his military service. They put forth defenses of insanity, diminished responsibility, and justification. The jury ultimately did not convict him of the initial charge. Instead, they found Kirwan guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced for the killing of his neighbor.
