Woman Charged For Stabbing, Strangling And Hiding Elderly Dementia Roommate Body In Blankets
A 32-year-old woman is facing charges for engaging in a physical altercation with and allegedly causing the death of an elderly man afflicted with Parkinson's dementia.
According to a Rice County Attorney's Office press release, the Faribault Police initiated a welfare check on 76-year-old Gary Lehmeyer on Feb. 5.
RELATED: Death Penalty Sought For Woman Accused Of Killing 4-Year-Old, Leaving Body In Backpack
Upon arriving at the scene, law enforcement reportedly discovered a gruesome scene where Lehmeyer had endured multiple stab wounds, strangulation, and had been bound at the ankles. The victim's body had been meticulously wrapped with blankets, sheets, and a mattress pad.
According to KMSP-TV, the medical examiner determined that Lehmeyer died from strangulation and multiple sharp force injuries, leading to the classification of his death as a homicide.
The police investigation revealed blood evidence on the bedroom walls and floor, with Lehmeyer's vehicle missing from the residence.
Arlene Bell, Lehmeyer's roommate, informed officers that she was present at home when she heard a disturbance in Lehmeyer's room. Upon checking, she noticed red bullets near his feet. Bell claimed that Lehmeyer, despite his disability, prevented her from leaving the room, resulting in a physical altercation.
During the altercation, Bell, 32, allegedly stabbed Lehmeyer multiple times and used a knife to "saw at his wrists." The defendant asserted that her roommate then "strangled her, threw a dehumidifier at her, and choked her with its cord."
According to the attorney's office, Bell described cutting the cord off the dehumidifier, noting that Lehmeyer was "bleeding profusely" and allegedly spat up blood moments before his death. Fearing he might regain consciousness and pose a threat, Bell tied the victim's feet together with the cord before wrapping his body.
RELATED: Judge Accused Of Shooting Sleeping Boyfriend In The Head And Told Him He Did It
Bell reportedly rifled through her roommate's belongings, took a shower to cleanse herself of blood, and then drove Lehmeyer's vehicle toward the Mexico border, as revealed by the attorney's office.
An Iowa state trooper apprehended Bell on Feb. 5 near Des Moines, suspecting her to be under the influence of narcotics. Upon searching the vehicle, the trooper discovered removed rear seats, a mattress, a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue, and a bag of syringes with Narcan.
Bell confessed to the trooper about her recent methamphetamine use, leading to her custody. Iowa law enforcement later learned that Faribault police were seeking Lehmeyer's stolen vehicle, driven by Bell.
Currently held in the Dallas County Jail on a motor vehicle theft charge with a set bond of $50,000, Bell faces imminent extradition. The attorney's office anticipates potential charges of both theft and second-degree murder.
Bell's criminal history includes makingterroristic threats, burglary, and harassment.
