GUILTY IA - Christopher Bagley, 31, Walker, Linn County, 14 Dec 2018 *arrest*

[PommyMommy]

***WARNING - Graphic details***

MAY 11, 2020
Search warrant reveals details in deadly attack on Chris Bagley, who was buried in southeast Cedar Rapids in 2018
[...]

Each of the three men tell different versions of the incident, including one of self-defense.

Drew Blahnik, 32, and Drew Wagner, 34, both of Cedar Rapids — described in the search warrant as holding down Bagley and stabbing him — were charged last year with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of prosecution.

Paul Hoff, 40, of Cedar Rapids, who lived in a trailer where authorities say the killing happened, is also charged with abuse of a corpse and obstruction of prosecution. Hoff is already serving 14 years for federal firearms and drug convictions.

[...]

MAY 12, 2020
Man charged with Chris Bagley's murder to enter guilty plea, as unsealed warrant reveals new details in case
One of the men accused of murdering Chris Bagley will enter a guilty plea.

According to court documents filed Tuesday, Drew Wagner is scheduled to have a plea hearing on June 22, and he will have until the Friday before that date to tell the court which charges he’s pleading guilty to.

Wagner is currently charged with first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and obstruction prosecution in the 2018 death of Bagley.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

JUN 22, 2020
Drew Wagner enters plea deal in murder of Chris Bagley
Drew Wagner, one of the men charged in connection with the murder of Chris Bagley, pleaded guilty to lesser charges Monday.

Wagner, 34, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, assault while participating in a felony, conspiracy to commit a forcible felony, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing prosecution. In a separate case, Wagner pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver marijuana and a drug tax stamp violation. He faces up to 42 years in prison combined on all charges. Wagner had previously faced charges of first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing prosecution.

Sentencing will be set once another suspect in the case, Drew Blahnik, has his trial on murder charges in the case. Blahnik’s trial is scheduled to begin Feb. 15, 2021.

[...]

JUN 17, 2020
Suspect in Chris Bagley murder pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in plea deal

Drew Wagner

[...]

"Mr. Wagner will offer complete cooperation and truthful testimony in the legal proceedings involved with the co-defendant Drew Blahnik and any other defendant charged in connection with the death of Christopher Bagley," said Vander Sanden.

Wagner could face up to 42-years in prison for the seven charges he pleaded guilty to including voluntary manslaughter, conspiracy to commit a forceable felony, obstruction of prosecution, and abuse of a corpse.

Stewart Bagley said the family was on board with the plea not only to get an admission of guilt from Wagner but so there will now only be one trial instead of two.

[...]

 

[PommyMommy]

SEP 16, 2020
Cedar Rapids man charged with killing Chris Bagley wants trial moved out of Linn County

[...]

Most of the information from those hearings and search warrants — including details that Blahnik stabbed Bagley on Dec. 14, 2018, in retaliation for drug robberies committed by Bagley — were “untrue” and wouldn’t be admissible in Blahnik’s trial, Spies argued.

The details reported, he said, are “contrary to what the evidence will show.”

[...]

Linn County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden, arguing against moving the trial, said the defense has failed to prove that Blahnik couldn’t have a fair and impartial trial in Linn County. The defense, he said, points to news accounts and social media posts but they don’t prove a substantial prejudice among prospective jurors in Linn County.

Vander Sanden said there is nothing “remarkable or notable” in the coverage of this case that wouldn’t be expected in a murder charge. The articles have been accurate and factual. He agreed there had been “provocative” comments on social media, but there’s no evidence those were made by Linn County residents.

[...]

OCT 26, 2020
Blahnik denied change of venue request in Bagley case trial
[...]

Judge Christopher Bruns denied that request. In his ruling, Bruns wrote that while “the court agrees that...some or many jurors may have heard about this case...that does not equate to proof of substantial likelihood of prejudice."

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

Blahnik's trial has been set to begin in Linn County on February 15, 2021.

Change of venue denied in Chris Bagley murder trial

 

[PommyMommy]

NOV 27, 2020
Delayed jury trials due to COVID-19 likely to cause big backlog in Iowa | The Gazette
[...]

The Iowa Supreme Court ordered there would be no jury trials until Feb. 1. The court noted the current high rate of positive tests in making this determination earlier this month.

[...]

When the jury trials restarted in September, the 6th Judicial District — Linn, Johnson, Jones, Iowa, Tama and Benton counties — decided there would be one only trial a week. Usually, each courthouse might have two or three going at the same time, but each building has limited space. In order to maintain social distancing, there has to be fewer people in the hallways and courtrooms, and there aren’t enough larger courtrooms. Only a handful of trials, mostly misdemeanor cases, went forward in mid-September through Nov. 15.

[...]

“Assuming we can begin on Feb. 1, much will depend on when we are able to conduct trials without practicing social distancing and taking other safety precautions that currently restrict us to one jury trial per week,” Vander Sanden said. “Even with a vaccine on the verge of availability, I don’t expect the court system would or should relax current health and safety practices any time soon.”

Vander Sanden predicts it might take three or four years to work through the backlog of criminal and civil jury trials.

[...]

Here are a few of the more serious felony jury trials that have been delayed in Linn and Johnson counties as a result of the order. This list includes cases that were previously set to start in September, December or January:

Linn County cases

• Paul Hoff, 40, of Cedar Rapids: He is charged with obstruction of prosecution and abuse of corpse in the death of Chris Bagley, 31, of Walker, who went missing and authorities say was killed Dec. 14, 2018, in Hoff’s mobile home in southeast Cedar Rapids. Hoff is accused of lying to police and covering up Bagley’s death.

Hoff, a former member of the Aryan Brotherhood, a neo-Nazi group active in prisons, is already serving 14 years in federal prison on drug and firearm charges. Two other men, Drew Blahnik, 33, and Drew Wagner, 34, are accused of killing Bagley during a fight over drug robberies of Andrew Shaw, 31, a convicted large-scale marijuana trafficker. Authorities say Bagley, Blahnik, Wagner and Hoff sold drugs for him.

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

Blahnik's trial has been set to begin in Linn County on February 15, 2021.

Change of venue denied in Chris Bagley murder trial

Blahnik murder trial will be continued, judge orders

no new date has been set.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Man accused in Bagley slaying wants name change, acting career

CEDAR RAPIDS — The man accused of fatally stabbing Chris Bagley has asked a court to allow him to change his name to further his aspirations of becoming an actor.

 

[PommyMommy]

APR 8, 2021
Cedar Rapids man convicted in Chris Bagley’s death faces new charge | The Gazette
[...]

Drew Wagner, 34, who admitted last year to starting a fight in 2018 that led to Bagley being repeatedly stabbed to death by another, was charged Monday with introducing intoxicants or drugs into a correctional institution.

A criminal complaint states Wagner solicited another individual to mail him buprenorphine — a drug commonly used to treat opioid addiction and also used as a pain medication — at the jail.

Authorities examined a letter sent to Wagner and found a “sublingual film” attached underneath the postage stamp.

The substance was analyzed at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Lab and was identified as the opioid medication, the complaint states.

[...]

Wagner, as part of the plea agreement, will testify against Drew Blahnik, 33, of Cedar Rapids, who is accused of stabbing and killing Bagley, 31, of Walker, in a mobile home Dec. 14, 2018.

Blahnik ... will claim self-defense at his trial, which has been reset to July 13 in Linn County District Court.

[...]

Wagner’s sentencing was reset to Aug. 8.

 

[SharonNeedles]

Authorities examined a letter sent to Wagner and found a “sublingual film” attached underneath the postage stamp.

Just when I think I’ve seen it all… wow.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 8, 2021
Name change for man charged in Chris Bagley slaying has been delayed
The Cedar Rapids man accused of killing Chris Bagley will have to put his plan to change his name for a budding acting career on hold until after his murder trial, which begins next week.

Drew Blahnik, 33, charged with first-degree murder, filed a petition to change his name to “Johnny Blahnik Church” and was set to go before a judge Friday until his lawyer stepped in last week and asked the court to delay that hearing until after his client’s murder trial. Blahnik had filed the petition on his own, without an attorney.

[...]

Sixth Judicial District Senior Judge Patrick Grady granted the delay this week and moved the name change hearing to Aug. 13.

[...]

Blahnik, who plans to claim self-defense or in defense of others at trial, also is charged with abuse of a corpse and obstruction of prosecution in Bagley's death.

[...]

If convicted of first-degree murder, Blahnik faces life in prison without parole. His trial is set to begin next Tuesday in Linn County District Court.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 12, 2021
Trial set to start this week in 2018 Cedar Rapids killing
[...]

Jury selection is set to begin Tuesday for Drew Blahnik, who is charged with first-degree murder, obstructing prosecution and abuse of a corpse in the December 2018 death of 31-year-old Christopher Bagley.

[...]

Another man, 34-year-old Drew Wagner, pleaded guilty last year to voluntary manslaughter and other counts in Bagley's death and is set to testify against Blahnik. Wagner faces up to 42 years in prison when he's sentenced at a later date.

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

Live Coverage: Drew Blahnik murder trial Day One

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 16, 2021

WATCH: Opening arguments in Drew Blahnik trial, accused of killing Chris Bagley

WATCH: Trial continues for Drew Blahnik, accused of killing Chris Bagley

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 16, 2021
Prosecutors, defense lay out arguments in Drew Blahnik murder trial (kcrg.com)
[...]

In their opening statements Friday, prosecutors say Blahnik only claimed self-defense once the secret of the murder was out.

[...]

Defense attorney Leon Spies told the jury Blahnik killed Bagley out of self-defense and that Bagley had a gun during the altercation.

The defense gave background on Blahnik, saying he turned down a chance to play football in college to go into the Army. He served as a sniper in Afganistan, where he killed people and had friends who were killed. The defense says this impacted him daily, and they claim it impacted why he reacted the way he did when Bagley was killed.

[...]

During cross-examination, Courtney said she knew Chris was dealing drugs because he admitted it to her. She said cops found meth pipes in their house during a search.

Law enforcement then testified to a feud between Bagley and his drug dealer, Andy Shaw. Shaw is already serving a federal prison sentence on drug and gun charges.

[...]

Lydia Oline, who drove off with Bagley the night he disappeared, testified she and Bagley were going to get Meth that night and went to the trailer of Paul Hoff, another drug dealer and associate of Shaw. She testified Bagley walked her out and told her to go home but grabbed an axe from her car before going back inside.

Testimony in the case is set to resume on Monday.

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 16, 2021
Blahnik trial : Witnesses describe "nervous, paranoid" last days of Chris Bagley's life | KGAN (cbs2iowa.com)
[...]

"This is a case where two defendants collaborated to commit a gruesome and brutal murder," Linn County assistant attorney Jennifer Erger said in Friday's opening statement for the prosecution.

She told a Linn County jury that Bagley's death was a hit, carried out by Blahnik and Drew Wagner inside the trailer of Paul Hoff.

[...]

Spies says they don't deny Blahnik killed Bagley, but says it wasn't murder. The prosecution says evidence will show Wagner held Bagley while Blahnik stabbed him.

"Christopher Bagley had suffered 17 sharp force wounds to his body," Erger says, talking about expected testimony from the state medical examiner. "She will testify she did not observe any defensive wounds."

[...]

"He started to get like very paranoid and anxious, he was always looking over his shoulder, always anxious," wife Courtney recalls. "He'd said that Andy had put a hit out on him."

[...]

Courtney Bagley was aware of her husband's drug use and affairs, and says she asked him to "step back" for a bit; he moved out of their Walker home Father's Day 2018. ...

"He just sat on the kitchen floor and he just bawled," she says. "He said 'I don't want to do this, I just want to be normal. I want help. Please help me.' We started looking at rehab facilities for him."

Just days later, Bagley was in Hoff's trailer, smoking meth with Lydia and Corissa Marti, who says she heard him talking about some men and showing Hoff a gun. Courtney says before he left that night, it was like he knew he wouldn't be back.

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

Follow live coverage: Drew Blahnik murder trial Day 2

 

[JerseyGirl]

Drew Wagner to return to the stand in Blahnik murder trial

 

[PommyMommy]

Drew Wagner to return to the stand in Blahnik murder trial

Noting:

• Drew Wagner spent hours on the stand on Monday and Tuesday.
• Wagner lived in the home where Bagley’s body was buried.
• He told the jury on Monday how he witnessed the murder.
• During cross-examination Tuesday morning, Wagner continued.
• “The plan happened on the fly, the plan that the defendant made was to take him one on one in the front part of the trailer,” Wagner said.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=977501949704553

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=348430810200355

 

[PommyMommy]

JUL 20, 2021
Blahnik trial : Paul Hoff tells different version of Bagley death | KGAN (cbs2iowa.com)
[...]

Wagner testified that while Blahnik had a knife on his hip, he used a knife off Hoff's counter to stab Bagley. Hoff says he watched Blahnik pull his own knife out of his sheath.

While Wagner told jurors that Hoff laughed and smiled after the murder and that he was "in a haze" and didn't realize just what had happened, Hoff painted Wagner as the willing accomplice. He said Wagner, while holding Bagley in a "bear hug," told Blahnik to kill him.

Hoff explained that the whole scene, from when Wagner engaged Bagley in a shoving match to when Blahnik killed him, lasted about "15 seconds." He says after Blahnik first stabbed Bagley in the side, Bagley said 'Please just let me out of here.' He claims Blahnik continued stabbing Bagley in the chest and torso until he accidentally cut Wagner, then held Bagley by the hair and stabbed his neck "three or four times."

[...]

Wagner and Hoff do agree that it wasn't self-defense and that Blahnik and Wagner were paid by Shaw after the killing.

[...]

 

[JerseyGirl]

WATCH LIVE: Day 4 of testimony in Drew Blahnik trial