PALO, Iowa — EDITOR'S NOTE: The above video is from Monday, July 18
Two people have been charged in with murder in the July death of 58-year-old Jodie Bevans, the Iowa Department of Public Safety announced Thursday.
Deputies from the Benton County Sheriff's Office and agents of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation arrested Jodie's stepdaughter, 34-year-old Samantha Faith Bevans, on Wednesday.
Officials also arrested suspect Tacoa Talley, 38, on Thursday.
The arrests come after authorities responded to the 3300 block of 64th Street in Palo on July 15 to perform a wellness check on Jodie, only to find her dead in her home.
According to a criminal complaint, Samantha:
- Made threats to harm Jodie
- Mentioned killing Jodie on at least two occasions, once in a handwritten note and again in a Snapchat video
- Admitted to killing Jodie, stating she "suffocated Jodie Bevans with a pillow while her accomplice choked Jodie Bevans"
Samantha and Tacoa are both charged with Murder in the First Degree.
An autopsy had previously ruled the cause of Jodie's death as undetermined and the manner of death as a homicide, DPS said.
Local 5 will update this story when more information becomes available.