'You need to die': Male strangles mom with American flag, beats up her boyfriend, leads police on drunken car chase, cops say



An Iowa man used an American flag to strangle his own mother, then beat up her boyfriend, fled the scene, and led police on a car chase, according to a criminal complaint.

According to Johnson County Jail records, Adam Sotzen of Cedar Rapids was booked at 3:35 a.m. Monday and charged with assault with intent to cause pain or injury, first-degree harassment, operating while intoxicated, and eluding while exceeding the speed limit by 25 mph or more. Sotzen is being held on a $30,000 bond.

'You need to die.'

According to the criminal complaint, Sotzen went to his victim’s home in North Liberty early Monday morning upset over a prior dispute. The 39-year-old allegedly got into a verbal altercation and then began destroying property.

The Daily Iowan reported that Sotzen shoved his mother to the ground. He allegedly stole an American flag from a nearby home, twisted it into a rope, and then strangled her.

According to KCRG-TV, Sotzen told her multiple times, “You need to die.”

The criminal complaint said his mother fell from her chair, but Sotzen continued to choke her as she lay face down. His mother allegedly told police she feared for her life because she believed Sotzen was capable of killing her.

The mother’s boyfriend reportedly intervened and pulled Sotzen off the woman. Sotzen then allegedly attacked his mother's boyfriend, punching him in the face and the ribcage.

Following the reported strangulation and assault, Sotzen fled the scene in his vehicle before police could respond.

A police officer identified Sotzen's vehicle by the license plate after reports of the assault circulated. The officer turned on the cruiser's emergency lights and attempted to pull over the suspect, but Sotzen allegedly ignored the cop and led police on a drunken police car chase.

Cops said Sotzen sped 55 mph in a 30 mph zone during the chase.

Sotzen finally pulled over, exited his vehicle, and dropped to his knees in the middle of the road, according to the complaint.

Police described Sotzen as being uncooperative and combative with law enforcement. Authorities also noted that Sotzen appeared unbalanced and smelled strongly of alcohol. The complaint said Sotzen continued to be physically aggressive while being transported to jail and reportedly struck the partition inside the police cruiser.

According to state prison records, Sotzen was incarcerated in 2013 for committing a “serious misdemeanor.”

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'He fought hard': Family remembers Iowa principal, heralded as hero, who died during deadly Perry High School shooting



The Iowa high school principal – who was heralded as a hero for protecting students during the tragic shooting at Perry High School in January – died on Sunday, according to his family.

Principal Dan Marburger reportedly died at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Sunday. He was previously listed in "stable" condition at the hospital after being shot by the school shooter.

The somber announcement of the passing of 57-year-old Dan Marburger was made by his wife on a GoFundMe page.

"Although the news has not fully set in yet, Dan Marburger gave the ultimate sacrifice. After 10 days, he lost his battle and this tragedy took his life," wrote Elizabeth Marburger – the principal's wife. "Although Dan is no longer fighting with us here, his family will continue to deal with the unfathomable for many days, week, and years to come."

"All of the Marburger family and the entire Perry Community will forever be touched by the selflessness of Mr. Marburger," the update stated. "This GoFundMe will continue to be used for the Marburger family as they process through and live out Dan's legacy."

"He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever," the distraught wife said.

Marburger was applauded for his efforts during the school shooting in Iowa on Jan. 4, where he reportedly distracted the shooter away from young students.

The principal's daughter – Claire Marburger – wrote on social media, "Yet another post I didn’t imagine having to write…If you are lucky enough to know my dad, you know there are not enough words to say about him."

Claire Marburger served as Perry High School's varsity girls' basketball coach last year and still works for the school district.

When the shooter entered the Perry High School on Jan. 4, Marburger reportedly distracted the alleged murderer to prevent further shooting deaths.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement, "Our entire state is devastated by the news of Dan Marburger’s death. Kevin and I offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family as we pray for their comfort during this very difficult time. Dan courageously put himself in harm’s way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. May he rest in peace."

On Sunday, Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff to commemorate Marburger's sacrifice.

During the shooting at Perry High School, two other school staff members and four students were wounded. Two of the students remained hospitalized as of Friday.

Marburger – a native of Sabula, an eastern Iowa town on the Mississippi River –earned a master's in educational administration from Drake University.

Marburger had reportedly worked in the Perry school district for nearly 30 years.

Marburger purportedly taught physical education and was an athletic director and middle school administrator. He had reportedly been a principal at the school since 1995.

The alleged shooter reportedly murdered a sixth-grade student from Perry Middle School and injured five others – including Marburger.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is working with Perry Police Department and Dallas County authorities to figure out the horrific case.

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Iowa teen who killed alleged rapist ordered to pay $150K, avoids prison time



Iowa teenager Pieper Lewis was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation and ordered to pay $150,000 restitution for killing her alleged rapist. The 17-year-old pleaded guilty in June 2020 to the willful injury and involuntary manslaughter of Zachary Brooks.

Lewis faced two charges, each punishable by up to 10 years in prison. On Tuesday, Polk County District Judge David M. Porter deferred Lewis' prison sentence, the Associated Press reported.

The teen was sentenced to five years of probation and ordered to pay Brooks' family $150,000 restitution. If the teen violates the terms of her probation, she could face up to 20 years in prison.

The judge explained that the restitution was mandatory and could not be avoided under Iowa law. Porter said, "This court is presented with no other option."

The teen, an alleged trafficking victim, was only 15 years old at the time of the killing. Lewis had run away from an allegedly emotionally and mentally abusive home several times in 2020. She was sleeping on the steps of an apartment complex when she met a 28-year-old man who offered her a place to stay.

Lewis accused the man of forcing her into sex trafficking and selling her to other men, including 37-year-old Zachary Brooks. Prosecutors did not deny that Lewis had been trafficked or that Brooks had raped the teen on multiple occasions.

On the evening of Brooks' death, Lewis told the court that she had woken up to him raping her. After Brooks had fallen asleep for the evening, the teenager grabbed a knife from the nightstand and stabbed him 30 times.

The prosecution argued that, since Brooks was asleep, he did not pose an immediate danger to the teenager. They stated that Lewis did not take responsibility for her actions and left Brooks' children without a father.

Before the sentencing, Lewis expressed that she was struggling with her detention because she was "treated like fragile glass" and not allowed to communicate with loved ones, the Associated Press reported.

"My spirit has been burned, but still glows through the flames," Lewis said. "I am a survivor."

Judge Porter requested that Lewis acknowledge the poor choices she made that led to the killing of Brooks. In addition, he voiced concern that the teenager seemed defiant of the rules of her detention.

"The next five years of your life will be full of rules you disagree with, I'm sure of it," Porter said. "This is the second chance that you've asked for. You don't get a third."

Iowa teen who pleaded guilty to killing alleged rapist faces sentencing Wednesday



An Iowa teenager who pleaded guilty to murdering her alleged rapist in June 2020 faces sentencing on Wednesday.

The Des Moines Register reported that Pieper Lewis, now 17 years old, pleaded guilty to killing Zachary Brooks, 37, when she was 15.

The teenager had run away from home several times between January and March 2020. A doctor who testified for Lewis noted that her mother, Leslie Lewis, was “mentally and emotionally abusive.”

Lewis’ attorneys told the court about an incident where Lewis had returned home from being raped, and her mother seemed to blame her daughter for the attack. The teen responded by running away and sleeping on the steps of an apartment complex.

Lewis told authorities it was then that she met a 28-year-old musician who offered to take her in. Instead, the musician forced her to have sex with multiple men, including Brooks.

The teen told the court that one night in May, Brooks raped her five times and forced her to drink alcohol and smoke marijuana. Lewis recalled that on a later date in May, the musician cut Lewis’ throat with a knife when she refused to go with Brooks.

During a visit to Brooks’ home in June, Lewis fell asleep and woke up to Brooks raping her. After he had gone to sleep, Lewis stated that she was getting ready to leave when she noticed a knife on the nightstand.

Lewis claimed that something inside her snapped. Blinded by rage, she grabbed the knife and stabbed Brooks 30 times in his sleep.

The prosecution never disputed Lewis’ claims that Brooks had raped the underage girl.

Assistant Polk County attorney Erik Howe argued, “The child’s counsel has made much of the fact that Mr. Brooks seems likely to have committed a crime of his own prior to his death: statutory rape of a minor. While the undersigned certainly doesn’t wish to condone or excuse that conduct, it really isn’t germane to the discussion of whether waiver is appropriate. While it could potentially serve as a mitigating factor, the Court has no evidence before it to suggest it was a factor in Mr. Brooks’ death whatsoever. At best, child’s counsel’s argument amounts to ‘he was a bad guy so he deserved it.’”

The musician has not been charged for the alleged sex trafficking of the underage girl.

Lewis awaits sentencing on Wednesday at Polk County Criminal Courthouse for a first-degree murder charge. The teen agreed to plead guilty to involuntary manslaughter and willful injury in adult court. Lewis could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years in prison for each charge.