Donald Arthur Piper: A Detailed Account of His Crimes
Early Life and Background
Donald Arthur Piper was born on May 11, 1961, in West Des Moines, Iowa. Little is known about his early life, but records indicate he suffered from frequent headaches during his teenage years. In 1979, Piper began working as a maintenance engineer for a Hyatt hotel in Des Moines. He later worked in Denver, Colorado, before returning to Des Moines, where he was employed by various hotels. In 1993, a maid at a Holiday Inn filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him, alleging stalking and inappropriate behavior, which was settled out of court.
Confirmed Victims
- Patricia Lange
- Date: August 23, 1993
- Age: 36
- Location: University Park Holiday Inn, West Des Moines, Iowa
- Details: Lange's body was discovered in room 732. She had been tied up and strangled with a ligature. Lange had recently returned to Iowa from Denver and started a job as a database administrator. Despite investigations, no immediate suspects were identified at the time.
- Zurijeta Sakanovic
- Date: September 4, 1997
- Age: 21
- Location: Budgetel Inn, Clive, Iowa
- Details: Sakanovic, a Bosnian refugee working as a maid, was found stabbed to death in a guest room. Her hands were bound, and she had been strangled and stabbed multiple times. The case remained unsolved for several years.
Investigation and Arrest
In January 2000, authorities focused on Piper due to his access to hotel rooms as a mechanical engineer. He was placed under surveillance, which he claimed disrupted his life and led to job loss. On January 20, 2000, Piper was charged with Lange's murder and held at Polk County Jail on a $500,000 bond.
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