Packwood, Iowa (May 29, 2025) – A 17-year-old girl from Packwood, Ia was killed and a Missouri man seriously injured following a head-on collision Thursday morning on Packwood Road, just north of the Jefferson–Van Buren county line.

According to the Iowa State Patrol, Ava Ford, 17, of Packwood, was driving a 2003 Toyota Camry southbound on Packwood Road at approximately 7:35 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, her vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a northbound 1999 Dodge Ram driven by Clinton Weaver, 40, of Lancaster, Missouri.

Ford, who was wearing a seatbelt, died at the scene. Her body was transported by Cranston Funeral Home.

Weaver, also properly restrained, suffered serious injuries and was airlifted by AirCare to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Authorities noted that his seatbelt use likely saved his life.

Both vehicles were heavily damaged and removed from the scene by RPM of Fairfield. No additional vehicles were involved.

The crash remains under investigation by Iowa State Patrol Post 13, with assistance from multiple local and regional agencies.

No further details have been released as authorities continue to examine the circumstances that led to the fatal crash.

Keokuk, Iowa – A West Point man is facing multiple drug-related charges following a traffic stop and subsequent investigation by the Lee County Narcotics Task Force.

William Shane Dempsey, 51, was arrested and charged with several offenses, including:

• Possession with intent to deliver more than 5 grams of methamphetamine, a Class B felony

• Failure to affix a drug tax stamp, a Class D felony

• Possession of marijuana, a serious misdemeanor

• Possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor

The arrest came after the Keokuk Police Department conducted a traffic stop involving Dempsey. As a result of an ongoing investigation by the Lee County Narcotics Task Force, Dempsey was taken into custody at the scene. Authorities impounded his vehicle, which was later searched under a warrant.

Investigators report that the search uncovered evidence suggesting involvement in methamphetamine trafficking.

The Lee County Narcotics Task Force emphasized that Dempsey is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Lee County Narcotics Task Force has announced the arrest of a West Point man following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the Fort Madison area.

Thomas Joe Sebastian, 47, faces a series of felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from the investigation. He has been charged with two counts of Delivery of more than five grams of methamphetamine and one count of Possession with intent to deliver more than five grams of methamphetamine, all Class B felonies.

In addition, Sebastian faces five counts of Iowa drug tax stamp violation and six counts of Possession of a firearm by a felon, each a Class D felony. He is also charged with six counts of Possession of a controlled substance, which are serious misdemeanors, and one count of Possession of drug paraphernalia, a simple misdemeanor.

Authorities executed a search warrant at a residence during the investigation, which led to the discovery of the evidence supporting the charges.

The Lee County Narcotics Task Force was assisted in the operation by the Lee County area Special Response Team (SRT), the Keokuk Police Department, the Keokuk Police Department K-9 Zsolt, the Fort Madison Police Department, and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

The Task Force emphasized that Sebastian is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Lee County Narcotics Task Force receives funding in part from the U.S. Department of Justice, with funds administered by the Iowa Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy.

The Lee County Narcotics Task Force has announced the arrest of a Keokuk man on felony drug charges following an ongoing investigation.

David Alan Londrie, 62, of Keokuk, has been charged with possession of more than five grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver, a Class B felony, and a drug tax stamp violation, a Class D felony.

The charges stem from investigative efforts by the Narcotics Task Force and are not directly related to the traffic stop during which Londrie was initially taken into custody. The Keokuk Police Department conducted the traffic stop, during which Londrie was arrested on an outstanding warrant. Subsequent investigation by the Narcotics Task Force led to the additional drug-related charges.

The Lee County Narcotics Task Force was assisted in the case by the Keokuk Police Department.

Authorities remind the public that a criminal charge is merely an accusation and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office responded to a domestic assault report late Thursday night, May 29, 2025, in the 1100 block of Gabriel Avenue, just outside of Wayland.

Deputies were dispatched to the scene at approximately 10:15 p.m. Following an investigation, authorities determined that 18-year-old Kristopherpaul Boone of Wayland was the primary aggressor in the incident.

Boone was arrested and faces multiple charges, including one count of Domestic Abuse Assault – 1st Offense, a simple misdemeanor, and one count of Domestic Abuse Assault Causing Bodily Injury, classified as a serious misdemeanor. He was also charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance, another serious misdemeanor, and Child Endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The Henry County Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details at this time.

A Mount Pleasant man was arrested in the early morning hours of May 28 following a single-vehicle crash outside of Winfield.

At approximately 12:35 a.m., the Henry County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a vehicle collision in the 700 block of Nebraska Avenue in Winfield. The initial call indicated the driver was injured, and a passenger was unaccounted for.   While deputies were in route to the scene, the missing passenger was found walking along the 2300-grid of Highway 78, just outside of Winfield. He was identified as 38-year-old Roscoe Leyda of Mount Pleasant.

During the interaction, deputies determined that Leyda was intoxicated and in possession of drug paraphernalia. He was subsequently arrested and charged with Public Intoxication and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, both classified as simple misdemeanors.

No further details regarding the driver’s condition or the cause of the crash have been released at this time. The incident remains under investigation.

New London, IA — Formal charges have been filed against the teenage driver involved in a deadly crash last September that claimed the life of one teen and seriously injured another in New London.

According to court records filed this week, 17-year-old Owen Wesley Neff of New London has been charged with Homicide by Vehicle – Reckless Driving, a Class C felony, and Serious Injury by Vehicle, a Class D felony, in connection with the September 27, 2024 crash.

The crash occurred just before midnight at 11:44 p.m. at the intersection of Cleveland Street and Adams Street. Neff was driving a 2011 Ford F-350 eastbound on Cleveland Street when, for reasons still under investigation, he made a sudden and abrupt turn onto Adams Street. The maneuver caused two unrestrained passengers in the bed of the pickup truck to be ejected.

Gavin Browning, 16, of New London, was killed in the crash. He was not wearing a seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. His body was transported to a local funeral home.

Another 16-year-old passenger, Graden Weber, also of New London, was seriously injured and transported by Henry County EMS to Southeast Iowa Regional Health Center for treatment. He was also not wearing a seatbelt.

The charges against Neff were filed in Henry County District Court on May 27, 2025.

Court records show Neff was granted a pretrial supervised release. A preliminary hearing is set for June 6.

The crash was investigated by Trooper Murphy of the Iowa State Patrol Post 13 and assisted by multiple agencies.

KILJ News will continue to follow the case as it proceeds through the court system.