First-degree Murder Conviction

An Ohio man could spend the rest of his life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the September shooting death of a Glenwood teen.

A Mills County jury deliberated for about two and one-half hours Friday before announcing its “guilty” verdict in the state’s case against Mark Alan Troutman, 27, of Sylvania, Ohio.

Troutman shot Kathryn “Katie” Weber-Kuhl, 18, outside the Linnwood Estates Assisted Living facility on the evening of Sept. 17. The four-day trial concluded Friday with closing arguments from Mills County Attorney Naeda Elliott and defense attorney Eric Nelson.

Throughout the trial, Elliott and Assistant Mills County Attorney Tyler Loontjer presented evidence to show the fatal shooting was premeditated and deserving of a first-degree murder conviction. Nelson tried to convince jurors Troutman was intoxicated on the day of the shooting and intended to kill himself in front of Weber-Kuhl to make her realize how bad she had hurt him by ending their long-distance relationship.

Before Friday’s deliberations, District Court Judge James Heckerman told jurors they could render one of five verdicts in the case – guilty of first-degree murder, guilty of second-degree murder, guilty of voluntary manslaughter, guilty of involuntary manslaughter or not guilty.

Around 20 relatives and friends of Weber-Kuhl were in the courtroom Friday when the verdict was announced. Many were wearing purple “Justice For Katie” T-shirts.

“Our prayers were answered today,” Stevi Weber, the victim’s mother, said after the trial. “We can’t thank those who were involved (in investigating and prosecuting the case) enough. It’s justice for Katie.”

The trial included testimony from numerous witnesses, including co-workers and friends of the victim, law enforcement officers, forensic experts and the manager of the former Western Inn motel who played a crucial role in Troutman’s arrest on the night of the shooting.

In opening arguments last Tuesday, Dec. 13, Loontjer said Weber-Kuhl and Troutman had met online early in 2016 and eventually developed a romantic relationship, resulting in Troutman traveling to Glenwood multiple times over the summer.

Transcripts of dozens of text messages to and from Troutman’s phone, along with screen shots from his Facebook page were presented to the jury to offer insight into his state of mind and the nature of the relationship he had with Weber-Kuhl at various times in the weeks, days and hours leading up to the shooting.

Jurors were told Troutman, who has a pharmacology degree from the University of Toledo, had intentions of moving to Glenwood to be with “the love of his life” and taking a pharmaceutical-related job in Council Bluffs.

On most visits to Glenwood, Troutman drove his car from Ohio, but on one occasion in late August, he took a train from Chicago to Omaha, expecting Weber-Kuhl to pick him up at the Amtrak station. After she failed to show and didn’t answer his texts or calls, Troutman walked 24 miles from the train station at Ninth and Pacific Street to the Western Inn motel in Glenwood.

Troutman had reserved his room at the motel for a week, but his trip was cut short when he eventually had communication with Weber-Kuhl and learned she wanted to end their relationship.

Troutman  also learned through social media posts that Weber-Kuhl had entered into a relationship with another man, 20-year-old Kyle Thomas, a Mills County resident.

‘Katie had a big heart’
Testifying at the trial, Thomas said he began seeing Weber-Kuhl in late July or early August. He said “Katie had a big heart” and described her as a caring person who was always looking out for the needs of others.
Thomas said in late August he began receiving multiple texts and Facebook messages from Troutman, who wanted Thomas to know about the relationship the Ohio man had been having with Weber-Kuhl. Troutman wanted Thomas to end his relationship with Weber-Kuhl.

Thomas said he and Weber-Kuhl discussed her relationship with Troutman at one time. Weber-Kuhl indicated the relationship was over as far as she was concerned. Thomas said he and Weber-Kuhl were moving on with their own relationship, but Troutman continued his efforts to communicate with both of them.

“I told him, go back to Ohio,” Thomas said. “Don’t be coming back here stalking someone who is six years younger than you are.  I thought he was 24.”

Stranded in Glenwood without a vehicle or train ticket home, Troutman had to call his sister to come get him and take him back to Ohio on Sept. 1. It was in the days after his return to Ohio that Troutman began sharing suicidal thoughts in text messages, including two that were sent to a telephone number for a suicide prevention hotline.

Return To Glenwood
On Thursday, Sept. 15, Troutman got in his vehicle and returned to Glenwood. After the late-night ride, which included a traffic stop in Illinois where Troutman received a warning ticket for unsafe driving, he checked in at the Western Inn where he had developed a cordial relationship with manager Randi Cloyed.

Cloyed testified that she had gotten to know Troutman during his multiple stays at the motel and was of the understanding that he had a girlfriend in Glenwood and they had intentions of moving in together. Cloyed was unaware upon Troutman’s arrival on Sept. 15, however, that his girlfriend had ended the relationship. Cloyed even told Troutman she knew of an apartment for rent in Glenwood that he and his girlfriend might want to consider.
Cloyed described Troutman as very quiet. “He kept to himself – a loner,” she said.

On the night of Friday, Sept. 16, Cloyed said Troutman approached her at the motel and said he wanted to have a private conversation with her.

“He told me he wanted to be honest with me and said he didn’t want me to be disappointed in him,” Cloyed said. He went on to tell her that he and his girlfriend had broken up and he was contemplating suicide.
Troutman also told Cloyed about text message exchanges he had with Weber-Kuhl and Thomas. Cloyed consoled Troutman and told him no person is worth taking your own life.

Stalking Linnwood
Friday, Sept. 16, was the same date Troutman was seen walking around and driving by Linnwood Estates, where Weber-Kuhl was working the evening shift. Troutman even made one pass-through on foot without saying anything while Weber-Kuhl and other co-workers were sitting outside the facility taking a break. After Troutman walked by, Weber-Kuhl shared her concerns with co-workers about Troutman, referring to him as “my stalker.”

Troutman’s vehicle was later seen “circling” Linnwood Estates and the adjoining neighborhood multiple times.
Troutman was supposed to check out of the motel on Saturday, Sept. 17, but Cloyed learned that morning he would be staying one more night.

Weber-Kuhl was working again on  Sept. 17, when she discovered two of the tires on her vehicle were flat, the result of suspected vandalism. She was also getting messages on her phone from Troutman.

A Linnwood Estates co-worker, Emily Scott, who described Weber-Kuhl as “very outgoing and a hard worker,” sensed her friend was concerned and upset.

“You could tell she was out in her own little world worried about something,” Scott testified.

Weber-Kuhl notified Thomas about the flat tires on her vehicle Saturday afternoon. Shortly after 6 p.m., Thomas and some friends were headed to the race track near Pacific Junction when he received another message from Weber-Kuhl stating that Troutman was at Linnwood Estates. Just minutes outside of Glenwood, Thomas and his friends headed toward Linnwood Estates, apparently to confront Troutman. Thomas testified he sensed “something bad” was happening.
Scott said after dinner had been served to the Linnwood Estates residents, she heard Weber-Kuhl talking on her phone.
Moments later, Scott was taking out trash when she discovered Weber-Kuhl lying facedown on the ground on the south side of the building. Weber-Kuhl was unresponsive and bleeding profusely. Scott immediately called 911 and sought assistance from fellow co-workers. She was joined outside by Sharon Stanley who began administering CPR, but Stanley testified she knew immediately Weber-Kuhl was “already gone.”

Ohio License Plates
Thomas was on the scene of the shooting by the time Glenwood Rescue personnel and Glenwood police officer Scott Burtch arrived at Linnwood Estates. Thomas identified Troutman as the probable shooter and was able to show Burtch a Facebook photo of the suspect from his phone. Thomas also told Burtch that Troutman had been staying at the Western Inn and was driving a vehicle with Ohio license plates.

At the time of the shooting, Burtch was the only officer on duty. He secured the shooting scene with the aid of Glenwood Rescue personnel, while additional officers from the Glenwood Police Department and Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were called into service. A parked vehicle with Ohio license plates was located near the motel by fellow officers moments later.

At the motel, Cloyed had been preparing fried chicken in her residence and had intended to invite Troutman to join her family for dinner. That’s when she got a telephone call from one of the motel’s employees who told her there had just been a shooting in Glenwood.

Suspect At Motel
Cloyed believed Troutman was in his room because she had seen his vehicle parked near the motel in a lot owned by the adjoining Flat Iron laundry and car wash. She proceeded to Room 25, where Troutman was staying. She could hear him inside talking before she knocked on the door. He didn’t answer and didn’t let her in the room until she identified herself. Cloyed said Troutman was on the phone talking to a man. She could tell Troutman was visibly distraught.

“I asked him what’s going on and told him there’s been a shooting,” Cloyed testified. “He said, ‘It’s me.’

“I said, ‘What did you do?’

He said, ‘You know what I did.’”

Based on his answer, Cloyed said she didn’t know if Troutman was trying to tell her he had shot his former girlfriend (Weber-Kuhl) or her boyfriend (Thomas). Seconds later, Troutman said he “just wanted to end it all.”

“I asked him, ‘Do you have a gun?’

He said, ‘Randi, you know I wouldn’t hurt you or your family.’”

At that point Troutman presented the handgun. Cloyed took possession of the weapon and wrapped it in a towel. Cloyed then convinced Troutman that he needed to turn himself into police officers.  Still holding the gun inside a towel, she walked with Troutman down to the lobby of the motel.

Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen, who was off duty at the time of the shooting, testified he recalled receiving the “man down page” of a gun shot victim at Linnwood Estates. He immediately contacted the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for assistance.

While en route from his home, Johansen was informed that the suspect’s vehicle had been located at the Western Inn. Johansen met another officer at the motel where they both observed Troutman’s vehicle.

Johansen called the motel and was informed the manager (Cloyed) was down the hall speaking with Troutman. Cloyed got on the phone seconds later.

Johansen said Cloyed sounded “frantic, nervous and scared” and she urged him to get to the motel immediately.

“She said, ‘I have the gun,’” Johansen said.
Johansen and other officers immediately entered the motel where Troutman was arrested.

“You need to kill me”
On dashcam footage taken from Glenwood Police Sgt. Pat Martin’s cruiser and shown to the jury, Troutman can be heard being placed in the rear of the vehicle. A voice identified as Troutman can be heard saying, “I did a bad thing. I know I did a bad. You need to kill me.”

Martin is then heard saying, “That’s not going to happen.”

Repeatedly, Troutman is heard on the dashcam video sobbing and asking Martin to please kill him.
Jurors were also presented a 79-minute video showing Martin, Johansen and a handcuffed Troutman in an interview room in the Mills County Law Enforcement Center. Troutman is shown on the video, crying and continuing to plead with the two officers to kill him more than a dozen times. In one exchange, Troutman says, “Please kill me. I’m begging you. Why won’t you kill me?”

Later, Troutman said to Martin, “What if I go for your gun?”

Martin replied, “I don’t have a weapon. It’s not going to happen, OK? Just take some deep breaths and relax. It’s going to be OK.”

Troutman, while crying, replied, “It’s not going to be OK.”

After several minutes, of crying and inaudible pleading, Troutman can be heard saying, “Just please kill me….I should have done it right after.”

After 10 seconds of silence, Troutman then says, “Did you watch the Nebraska game?” before going to describe in detail the Nebraska vs. Oregon football game played that afternoon.

Football Discussion
What followed was a series of uneven exchanges between Troutman and Martin about college football, ESPN coverage and who Troutman’s favorite football teams and players are. The football discussion was often but briefly broken by Troutman’s crying, rocking back and forth on his stool and, on several occasions, asking Martin why he couldn’t kill him?
Later, Troutman asked Martin if he could look at his own cell phone to see if he had any messages. Martin told him he could not.

Troutman went on to tell Martin, “She encouraged me to move out here. I had a great job lined up and a dream apartment and that all went away. I know the news is going to paint me as a monster. But I swear…because all news is biased.”

Troutman almost immediately followed up this exchange with comments on how much he dislikes Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly.

Coherent, Cooperative
In the courtroom, Troutman watched the video motionless and without response.
While on the witness stand, Martin was questioned about his discussion with Troutman, and asked if he thought Troutman was in anyway intoxicated. Martin, a 19-year law enforcement veteran, said Troutman did not appear to him to be exhibiting any of the signs of intoxication.

“He was very coherent and cooperative,” Martin said.

The defense did question Martin about one exchange in the video where Troutman says, “I’m drunk” and Martin replies,

“I guess you are drunk . . . or something.”

Cloyed was also asked if Troutman had displayed signs of intoxication during their encounters prior and after the shooting. Cloyed said based on personal observations on Sept. 17, she had no reason to believe Troutman had been drinking that day.

Jurors heard about evidence collected from Troutman’s car and motel room, including Troutman’s passport, a prescription bottle of unnamed pills, a fully loaded magazine for a Walther PPKS .380 semi-automatic handgun registered to Troutman, a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, three empty rum bottles and a backpack.

A pair of scissors, possibly used to puncture the tires on Weber-Kuhl’s car, were found on the passenger seat of Troutman’s vehicle.

Writing On The Wall
A message, written on the wall of Troutman’s motel room on the day of the shooting, read “I can’t live with that and neither should she.”

Iowa State Medical Examiner Dr. Jonathan Thompson told jurors he performed the autopsy on Weber-Kuhl and determined her cause and manner of death to be homicide by gunshot wound. 

Dr. Thompson said his exam determined Weber-Kuhl died of a gunshot wound to her left temple, above her eye. Gunpowder stippling on Weber-Kuhl’s face, neck, upper chest and forearm and the lack of stippling on her cheek and chin suggested to Thompson that she likely raised her left arm as the fatal shot was fired. Thompson also said the shot was a close or intermediate shot, meaning the gun was between 1 centimeter and 2-3 feet away.
Jurors and members of the audience in the courtroom saw photos from both the crime scene and the autopsy.

Closing Arguments
In his closing statements for the defense, Nelson argued the evidence in the case suggested Troutman didn’t go to Linnwood Estates with the intent to kill Weber-Kuhl.

“Mark’s whole focus was to commit suicide in front of Katie Weber at her work,” Nelson said. “He wanted to leave evidence on his phone as to why he did it.

“If he did plan to kill Katie, why not pack up your car and go? Why go back to the motel?”

Nelson noted there were no eye-witnesses to the shooting.

Elliott told jurors the evidence and testimony presented during the trial and Troutman’s actions clearly contradict the suicide argument and the notion that he was intoxicated or impaired at the time of the shooting.

“He just didn’t follow through on the second part of his murder-suicide plan,” Elliott said. “He had just murdered someone so of course he’s going to act distraught (after the shooting).”

Elliott was understandably pleased with the jury’s verdict.

“The jury came back with first-degree murder. It took just a little over two hours – we’re just thankful for the witnesses that stepped up and thankful for the support of the community,” Elliott said.

Troutman is scheduled to be sentenced in Mills County District Court on  Monday, Feb. 13, with Judge Heckerman presiding.