ALTOONA, Iowa — An Altoona woman has been convicted of murder over two years after the death of her boyfriend.
43-year-old Marique Ruth was charged with first-degree murder in March 2023 after 41-year-old John Killen was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds seven months earlier, in August 2022.
Court documents show Ruth and Killen were in a relationship for less than a year and living together when the shooting occurred. Before shots were fired, the two were arguing about finances and relationship issues, police said.
Police said Ruth admitted to shooting Killen four times and choosing to not use her cell phone to call for help. When she shot him, Ruth also admitted he was was not threatening her and did not have a weapon on him.
A Polk County Jury convicted Ruth on Tuesday.
The Iowa Attorney General's Office said sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 13. the mandatory sentence for Murder in the First Degree is life in prison without the possibility of parole.
