Body found near Amana pond identified as Marion woman

AMANA — A woman’s body, found Sunday near the picnic area at Amana’s lily pond, has been identified as that of Melody M. Hoffman, 20, of Marion.

Criminal charges have been filed in Linn County District Court against McKinley Louisma, 23, of Hiawatha.

According to an affidavit filed with the Linn County Court, the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Hoffman died by strangulation. She had numerous stab and slash wounds to her body.

Following her movements through witness statements and by tracking her iPhone and her Apple watch, officials concluded that Hoffman was picked up by Louisma about 11 p.m. Feb. 17 and remained with him until she died.

The court affidavit says Hoffman was at Morgan Creek Park in Linn County when her Apple watch recorded her heartbeat intensify before it stopped or the device was deactivated.

Law enforcement officers found Hoffman’s phone case, an Apple watch band with blood on it, a bungee cord, towing rope, gloves and clothing matching what Hoffman had been wearing in a bag in the trunk of Louisma’s car, the affidavit says.

According to the affidavit, Louisma admitted that he was with Hoffman and another person Sunday and that he and the other person bound Hoffman’s wrists with duct tape, put her in the trunk of the car and drove her to several locations, ending up at the pond in Iowa County.

Louisma helped rip Hoffman’s clothes from her body, the affidavit says. Hoffman was beaten and begged to be let go, Louisma told officials.

According to the affidavit, Louisma said he was in an intimate relationship with Hoffman but was also in a relationship with another woman.