Man Accused of 2012 North Iowa Murder Waives Right to Trial Within One Year of Arraignment

A Charles City man accused of a north Iowa murder over 10 years ago has waived his right to a trial within one year of his arraignment. 

Now 51, Randy Patrie is charged with first-degree murder in the 2012 death of 70-year-old Kenneth Gallmeyer at Gallmeyer’s residence north of Nashua. An investigation by the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office, Charles City Police and Iowa DCI found items owned by Gallmeyer inside Patrie’s Charles City home, including a shotgun believed used to kill Gallmeyer.

It was April 11, 2022 that Patrie officially pleaded not guilty and initially asked for a speedy trial. Three days later, he waived that right and a trial date was set for January 25, 2023 in Chickasaw County District Court.

However in December, his attorney’s filed a motion for a continuance for more time to prepare for Patrie’s defense and, based on counsel’s schedule, asked for a trial date after August 2023. That motion was granted and the trial is now set for October 18th in Chickasaw County District Court.

Monday (02.13), Patrie waived his right to be tried within one of his arraignment.

Pushing the trial to this fall will make it almost 11 years since the murder. While the passage of that much time makes prosecuting the case more challenging, Chickasaw County Attorney David Laudner says they still have a job to do.

Patrie continues to be held in the Fayette County Jail in West Union awaiting trial.