In the quiet farming community of North Washington, northwest of New Hampton, Iowa, a tragic event unfolded in the fall of 2003. Twenty-two-year-old Rachel Fischer, a female who had recently moved to the area from Floyd, was found dead on October 18th in the farmhouse she shared with her boyfriend. An investigation revealed that she had died from a gunshot wound.
The incident was not believed to be a random act of violence.
Her live-in boyfriend, 39-year-old Rick Devries, was also found at the scene with a gunshot wound to his chest. He reportedly ran to a neighbor's house to get help following the shooting. Devries was transported to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, where he was listed in critical condition. While he was recovering from his injuries, the investigation into Fischer's death continued.
A little over a week after the discovery of his girlfriend's body, Rick Devries was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in her death. He was taken into custody on a Saturday and held at the Olmsted County adult detention center in Rochester, Minnesota, pending extradition back to Iowa to face the charges.
