A 61-year-old man in Iowa has been charged with the murder of his former girlfriend, Barbara Lenz, who disappeared in May 1989. Barbara, a 31-year-old mother, was last seen on May 6 of that year. Nearly 36 years later, on March 10, authorities arrested Robert Davis in connection with her case.
The Iowa Department of Justice announced that Davis faces first-degree murder charges related to Lenz’s disappearance. According to a criminal complaint, investigators believe that Davis acted intentionally and deliberately in harming Lenz.
Barbara Lenz’s case went cold for decades until the Iowa Cold Case unit decided to take another look, leading to the identification of Davis as a suspect. The investigation indicates that Lenz may have been taken against her will from her home, and despite numerous searches over the years, she was never found.
Attorney General Bird commented that the arrest is a significant step towards justice for Lenz and hopes it will provide closure for her family, who have lived with uncertainty for many years.
At the time of her disappearance, Davis claimed he left Lenz at her apartment in Woodbine, Iowa. When she did not show up to see her daughter in Omaha, Nebraska, her family reported her missing. Authorities discovered that Lenz had not taken her belongings and her pets had been left unattended, raising further concerns.
In the investigation, it was learned that Lenz had expressed fears about Davis and alleged that he had assaulted her on multiple occasions. He reportedly threatened to kill her if she tried to leave him. Davis was also noted to have had arguments with Lenz leading up to her disappearance.
Witnesses have reported that after Lenz went missing, they saw Davis and his brother burying something in a rural area near his home. The details surrounding this raised serious concerns, although authorities have not confirmed what was buried.
As of now, Davis remains in the Harrison County Jail without bond and is awaiting trial. Meanwhile, Lenz’s daughter, Lindsay, expressed that the news of the arrest feels surreal and that she has waited for a long time to find answers about her mother’s fate. She further stated that justice for her would mean bringing her mother home.
The investigation into Lenz’s disappearance continues, with hopes that one day her remains will be found.
