COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa (TCN) — A 61-year-old man was recently arrested on suspicion of killing his girlfriend, who disappeared over three decades ago.
According to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, 31-year-old Barbara Lenz was last seen on May 6, 1989. Her family reported her missing to the Woodbine Police Department on May 17, 1989.
The criminal complaint says Lenz’s relatives entered the victim’s apartment that day and found that her pets had not been cared for in “some time.” Many of her personal belongings were there, but family members didn’t find any signs of struggle. Lenz reportedly didn’t have any plans to travel or leave.
Woodbine Police and investigators interviewed multiple people, including Lenz’s boyfriend at the time, Robert Davis. He claimed he dropped Lenz off at her home earlier in the day and that she was in Nebraska visiting her daughter. However, authorities confirmed Lenz was not in Omaha.
According to the complaint, investigators learned Lenz previously told other people she was “in fear of her boyfriend” and that “she was trying to get away from him.” She reportedly informed at least two witnesses that Davis “had threatened to kill her if she ever left him.”
The complaint alleges that throughout their two-year relationship, Davis assaulted Lenz multiple times and strangled her to the point of unconsciousness, causing several injuries. Davis admitted he had a “violent temper when things went wrong” with her. In May 1988, he also allegedly assaulted Lenz’s daughter at a restaurant.
According to the complaint, Davis told investigators he and Lenz began having relationship problems in July 1988 when they argued and Davis struck Lenz. Davis reportedly got his engagement ring back from Lenz during the incident.
The couple reportedly got into another altercation in August 1988, and Davis confessed to “choking her down” until she lost consciousness. The complaint alleges Davis had to carry Lenz out of the home, which was witnessed by a neighbor. Lenz went to the hospital the following day for medical treatment.
Davis admitted that he and Lenz got into a fight at a bar on another occasion, which continued at her apartment. Davis allegedly “choked her down” again and waited until she was conscious again before they apologized to each other.
Lenz would often visit her daughter, who lived with her father in Nebraska. According to the complaint, Davis told officials he “didn’t like Lenz doing this,” but he was “getting over it.” Multiple altercations occurred after Lenz’s visits to Nebraska.
Witnesses reportedly saw Lenz and Davis arguing outside Davis’ home on May 6, 1989. Investigators suspect at least part of the fight was over Davis not wanting Lenz to go to Nebraska.
Per the complaint, a witness went to Davis’ home in the afternoon on May 6, 1989, and saw Davis slash Lenz in the face with a sharp object, causing significant bleeding. The couple allegedly “continued arguing further as Lenz wanted to leave, and Davis would not let her do so.” Davis and Lenz were last seen leaving Davis’ residence in his car. Lenz has “not been seen or heard from since.”
According to the complaint, a witness saw Davis at a bar that evening, and he claimed he was looking for his girlfriend and didn’t know where she was. Authorities said “this behavior would be inconsistent with other statements made by Davis in the past when he stated that Lenz would disappear for a few days at a time with no warning and that he was not concerned.”
Another witness reportedly saw Davis and his brother burying something in a rural area shortly after Lenz went missing. The brother allegedly brought the witness to the property, where he helped Davis bury something wrapped in plastic.
Upon further investigation, authorities determined Lenz had been “taken against her will.” Despite their efforts and numerous leads, officials were unable to find Lenz.
Authorities said Davis became uncooperative with the investigation, and he hasn’t asked about Lenz’s whereabouts since June 1989. No arrests were made at the time, and the case went cold.
More than three decades later, on March 10, the attorney’s office announced the arrest of Davis on a charge of first-degree murder. Authorities said they have probable cause to believe Davis killed Lenz on or around May 6, 1989, and disposed of her body in an unknown location.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said, “This arrest is a milestone in securing justice for Barbara Lenz. We are hoping to soon bring peace and answers to Barbara’s loved ones, who have waited 35 long years in the dark. I am deeply grateful to my team in the Iowa Cold Case unit, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, the Harrison County Attorney’s Office, and the Woodbine Police Department who have, and continue to, work diligently to crack Barbara’s case. No one should get away with murder.”
