A woman facing first-degree murder charges in the shooting death of a truck driver at an Iowa rest stop has entered a plea of not guilty.
Trucker found shot to death at Iowa rest stop
On Septemeber 6th, Mariana Lesnic allegedly shot Ernest Kummer, 60, at a rest stop off of I-80 at mile marker 205 in Iowa County near Victor. The Iowa County Sheriff’s Office received a report of the shooting around 2:37 a.m.
When officers arrived on the scene, they found a semi parked at the rest stop. Kummer was dead as a result of gunshot wounds inside of his truck.
Police arrested 43-year-old Lesnic. She faces first-degree homicide charges and is being held on a $1 million cash-only bond. She is in custody at the Iowa County jail.
In Iowa, a first-degree homicide conviction carries with it an automatic sentence of life in prison without the chance of parole.
Charged with first-degree murder
On Monday, Lesnic waived her right to a speedy trial. Also on Monday, in a written plea Lesnic plead not guilty.
An official trial date has not been set.
Since the shooting, more details of the incident has become more clear. The Gazette reported, “An affidavit shows Lesnic was the person who called 911 about the shooting. She told police she shot Kummer and was ‘sick over it.’ Lesnic told officers the small, semi-automatic gun was in her purse, which was found on the ground next to her at the scene, according to the affidavit.”
Investigators also requested to search cell phone records between Lenic and Kummer, along with 2 thumb drives in Lesnic’s purse.
Further, any GPS found at the scene had been held to be examined by police in order to gather more evidence prior to the shooting, and more information as to the nature of their relationship.
The motive behind this shooting has not been released by police.
Kummer was a driver for Copeland Trucking in Des Moines since 2010. Copeland manager Charlie Hoag commented on Kummer and Lesnic relationship saying that Kummer never mentioned Lesnic prior to his death.