The man accused in the death of a Nashua man almost a decade ago is back in Iowa and has pleaded not guilty.
49-year-old Randy Patrie is charged with first-degree murder in the October 2012 death of 70-year-old Kenneth Gallmeyer. The Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office discovered Gallmeyer’s body while doing a welfare check at his home north of Nashua. Their investigation, which included assistance from Charles City Police and Iowa DCI, led to the discovery of various items owned by Gallmeyer inside Patrie’s Charles City home, including a shotgun authorities say was consistent with the weapon that shot and killed Gallmeyer.
Before local law enforcement could proceed with their case, Patrie was sentenced in 2014 to life in federal prison on felony firearms charges and for being a career criminal. However, in 2018, Patrie was resentenced to 20 years in federal prison, opening the door for his prosecution in Chickasaw County, which County Attorney David Laudner says is a unique situation.
Laudner, who came on board as Chickasaw County Attorney last October, nine years after the murder, says pursuing justice for the Gallmeyer family was a priority from his first day in office in New Hampton.
Patrie was returned to north Iowa last month and is currently being held in the Fayette County Jail in West Union, which also serves as a federal holding facility. He has pleaded not guilty and on Monday filed paperwork to demand a speedy trial. Laudner says that could mean his trial starts in June, but added that Patrie could change his mind and waive his right to a speedy trial, which would push trial to this fall.
