DES MOINES, Iowa — Des Moines police have made an arrest in the city's third homicide of 2024.
60-year-old Derrick A. Earnest of Des Moines is charged with first-degree murder. Police believe Earnest assaulted the victim, a 49-year-old woman, before driving her to the hospital.
The arrest comes about seven hours after police responded to the Iowa Methodist Medical Center to investigate reports of a stabbing victim arriving at the hospital.
The victim was "critically injured" and showed signs of blunt force trauma, according to police. The woman died of her injuries.
Police believe the incident occurred on 14th Place. The scene is being processed for evidence.
Earnest is currently being held at the Polk County Jail.
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