First-degree murder trial of Brandon Kasemeier gets underway, State rests its case prior to the holiday weekend after two days of testimony

Sharon Drahn Contributing Writer

With nearly 90 potential jurors summoned to the Allamakee County Courthouse Tuesday, May 20, jury selection began in the first-degree murder trial of Brandon Kasemeier, age 41, of Waukon, who is accused of killing his estranged wife, Jami, January 21, 2024.
Kasemeier was taken into custody in Colorado a day after Jami was found dead in the Waukon home the couple once shared.

Although Kasemeier had requested the trial be moved out of Allamakee County on two separate occasions within the past six months, those motions for change of venue were denied both times. Kasemeier’s attorneys argued that media attention and the smaller rural population of Allamakee County would make it difficult to select an impartial jury; however, court documents noted that Iowa First District Court Judge Alan Heavens ruled that selecting an impartial jury, although challenging, would indeed be possible.

After initially pleading not guilty to first-degree murder charges shortly after his arrest, Kasemeier had planned to enter into a plea agreement in June of 2024 on charges of second degree murder, but changed his mind during that scheduled hearing, and the trial date in the case had been pushed back several times. Kasemeier is being represented by Erin Carr and Raya Dimitrova of Carr Law Firm, P.L.C., Des Moines.

The criminal complaint filed in the case stated that Jami was already deceased when first responders found her inside the home, noting that she had extensive injuries to her face.

State of Iowa Assistant Attorney General Frank Severino Jr., and both Carr and Dimitrova, questioned potential jurors for a day and a half as the trial got underway last week, before 12 jurors and two alternates were seated early Wednesday afternoon, May 21. With Judge Alan Heavens presiding over the case, the attorneys then approached the jury with their opening statements.

In his opening statement, Severino told the jury that Jami Kasemeier was punished to death with a .22 caliber handgun with two bullets to the head. He said that she was a very selfless person, who always put the needs of others first in order to protect those she loved. He added that Jami was supportive of the defendant, including his extensive dental work, and in turn she was sent to her death.

Severino noted that she was a prisoner in her own home. With abuse continuing over a documented period of years, Severino explained that in recent months prior to her January 2024 death, Jami made the decision to move out of the home the couple had shared and she was escorted by the police to get her belongings out of the house. Although she had asked Brandon to give her the .22 caliber handgun, which she had inherited from her father, he did not give it to her when she did move out of the home.

Severino continued his opening remarks by saying that Jami, feeling that her children were in jeopardy, went to the house at 103 1st Avenue SW in Waukon, where she spent the night in late January of last year. He shared that while talking to her sister, Sarah Owen, on the phone, the phone went dead and it was later determined that Jami had been shot twice in the head while lying in her bed. Severino concluded his opening statement saying that Brandon Kasemeier showed no mercy,  and did not call for help. Instead, Severino pointed out that Brandon ran to Colorado, but that he cannot run from the truth.

While making opening remarks for the defense, Dimitrova reminded the jury that they must be 100% certain when making their decision in this case. She reiterated that the law requires that the State must prove Mr. Kasemeier is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt before he can be convicted.

Severino’s first witness in the case was Jami’s sister, Sarah Owen, who reiterated the fact that her sister was done with the marriage and that she was concerned about her safety. She added that Brandon could be heard in the background of her last phone conversation with Jami before the phone went dead and that he was trying to override the conversation. She also heard a loud noise, at which time the phone went dead.

Also taking the stand was Walter Scott Stuller from the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office in Fort Collins, CO. He explained that he was called by Allamakee County officials to make a welfare check at the Best Western hotel in Loveland, CO, where Kasemeier was believed to be staying. He added that Deputy Neil Baker was also called to assist. After questioning Kasemeier and searching his hotel room, he was taken back to the main office for a more detailed interview.

Investigator Ryan Adams of the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office said officers secured a warrant to collect evidence and the vehicle Kasemeier had driven from Iowa was towed and searched. During the search, a handgun was found inside the vehicle. The handgun, found under the driver’s seat, was determined to be a Ruger .22 caliber handgun.

With the case being turned over to the Iowa DCI (Department of Criminal Investigation), Kristin Hart and Jennifer Pullen, who are experts in crime lab testing and crime lab DNA testing, also took the stand during last week’s trial proceedings. They testified that testing on the grip of the handgun showed the profile matched the DNA of Brandon Kasemeier, as did testing of the hammer of the gun and two spots on his shirt.

When called to the stand, Bradley Kasemeier, the son of Jami and Brandon Kasemeier, told the court his mother was afraid of Brandon and planned to pawn her rings in order to pay for a divorce. He added that Brandon had placed cameras inside and outside the home.

Under oath, Breanna Nobles, Jami’s close friend, told the court she had witnessed abuse by Brandon and that Jami had confided in her that she feared Brandon would kill himself or someone else.

Friday’s witnesses in the trial included testimony from Dr. Kelly Kruse, who performed the autopsy on Jami Kasemeier’s body. Her findings included the gunshot wounds, as well as injuries independent of the gunshots. She testified that these injuries were consistent with blunt force injuries to her upper extremities. It was noted there were no drugs or alcohol in her system.

The State prosecution also called Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner and Officer Hector Salinas to the stand with video from their body cameras being entered into evidence. When entering the Kasemeier home, after receiving a search warrant, the deceased body of Jami Kasemeier was found by Officer Salinas.

When questioned during his time on the stand, Adrian (Andy) Martin, said he and Brandon Kasemeier were close friends. He said his girlfriend bought ammunition for Brandon and he himself bought one of his motorcycles. Martin said Brandon told him that he was going to go to jail.

Holly Witt, who has been a special agent with the DCI for 30 years, also took the stand and went over extensive phone records from the time Brandon Kasemeier left Waukon in late January, including the purchase of a new phone in Nebraska and when the phone was seized in Loveland, CO.

The final witness called to the stand by Assistant Attorney General Severino was DCI Agent Matthew Schalk, who drove to Colorado and transported Brandon Kasemeier back to Iowa following his arrest. At the conclusion of Schalk’s testimony, the State rested its case and the jury was dismissed for the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

Court was scheduled to resume Tuesday, May 27 at 9 a.m., after press deadline for this week’s edition of The Standard. Continued coverage of the trial will appear in the June 4 edition of The Standard.