A northeast Iowa man, accused of killing his wife, has again requested a change of venue for his trial.
41-year-old Brandon Kasemeier is charged with first-degree murder in the death of his estranged wife, Jami Kasemeier, found dead inside their Waukon home on January 22, 2024. Waukon Police also allegedly recovered an empty handgun case and several fired .22 caliber cartridge casings.
Investigators believe Jami Kasemeier was killed on January 21, 2024, the last day family members say they heard from her. On January 23, 2024, Brandon Kasemeier was arrested some 900 miles away in Loveland, Colorado, where Larimer County Sheriff’s deputies allegedly found a .22 (caliber) revolver in his car.
In December, Kasemeier filed for a change of venue citing extensive pretrial media publicity and the small population of Allamakee County making it impossible for him to receive a fair trial in Waukon. The State resisted and his request was denied by District Judge Alan Heavens in early January.
Last week (04.18), Kasemeier again filed a motion for a change of venue, citing results from his private investigator’s survey of the November 2024 jury pool that provide new information in support of the trial being moved.
Monday (04.21), the State filed its resistance, noting the investigator contacted 38 people, with eight people (21%) sharing a belief Kasemeier is guilty, but 79% have not formed an opinion. Prosecutors also assert that Kasemeier is not denying he killed Jami Kasemeier, but claims he was intoxicated and unable to form the specific intent to kill her.
No hearing date has yet been set to rule on Kasemeier’s latest attempt for a change of venue for his trial, scheduled to begin May 20th in Allamakee County District Court.
He remains held in jail without bond.
