Northeast Iowa Man Found Guilty of Killing His Father

Almost a year after he was accused of killing his father, a jury  has found a Decorah man guilty of murder.

44-year-old Aaron Whittle of Decorah was arrested last March and was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of 74-year-old Lawrence Whittle in Aaron Whittle’s home. Initially, Lawrence Whittle was reported missing on March 17th and his vehicle was located about 10 miles east of Decorah two days later. 

When Aaron Whittle was arrested on March 20th by the Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office, he admitted he shot his father. Investigators said Whittle’s account matched with their assessment of the crime scene.

Thursday (o3.02) in Winneshiek County District Court, a jury found Whittle guilty of second-degree murder, which carries a sentence of 20 years-to-life in prison. A second-degree murder charge indicates there is no provable premeditation as in a first-degree murder charge.

A sentencing hearing has been set for April 25tth. 

Whittle has 45 days from entry of the verdict and no later than five days before the imposition of sentencing to appeal his conviction.