Shelley Casterline

Background

Shelley Casterline was 41 when she pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Barone’s son, Ronald Jamilowski, was Shelley Casterline’s boyfriend. Shelley Casterline’s son, Andrew, was also charged in connection with the slaying of Virginia Barone.

The offence

Shelley Casterline pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in connection with the Oct. 4 slaying of Virginia Barone at Barone's home in Guide Rock.

Virginia Barone was 68 years old. Her body was found partially covered by boards in her home the next day.

An autopsy showed Barone had been stabbed twice in the back and 20 times in the chest and torso.

Investigators said Shelley Casterline acknowledged she killed Barone after the older woman made comments that enraged her. Investigators also described that Shelley Casterline became enraged during an argument and stabbed Barone.

Investigation

Deputies went to Barone's home after her friend reported she wasn't answering her phone. The friend had found her door open, car missing and her telephone and other possessions lying on the driveway.

When deputies went inside, they found a blood trail that led to Barone's body, which had been partially covered by boards, according to an affidavit for the Casterlines' arrests.

An autopsy later showed she had been stabbed 22 times, twice in the back and 20 times in the chest and stomach, according to court records.

Barone's son, Ronald Jamilowski, told an investigator he last saw his mother early Oct. 4 when she had driven him and the Casterlines to Guide Rock from Hastings. When he woke up Oct. 5, his girlfriend and her son were gone.

Investigators believed Andrew Casterline also stabbed Barone because Andrew Casterline had cuts on his hands that indicated he had wielded a knife.

A knife was found in the glove box. Bloody clothes were found in the stolen Jeep they'd been driving in Iowa.

Iowa investigators also turned up a pawn receipt for a 51-inch TV, X-Box 360 and games stolen Oct. 4 in a burglary in a house a block from Barone's.

Investigators found two of Barone's bank cards in Andrew Casterline's possession when he was arrested.

Arrest

The Casterlines were arrested Oct. 5 in Newton, Iowa, in a stolen Jeep.

They were wanted in connection to Barone's death by the time Iowa law enforcement personnel stopped them that afternoon in connection to an armed robbery in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Scott Bright said police were able to trace the Casterlines’ cellphone to Grimes at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. At 3:50 p.m., their cellphone was traced to the Baxter and Newton area.

Police responded to an armed robbery in the Newton Wal-Mart parking lot at 5:37 p.m. Saturday. Bright said Andrew Casterline allegedly grabbed a woman’s purse and took off running and that a group of Newton residents started chasing Andrew Casterline in the parking lot. Bright said Shelley Casterline then reportedly jumped out of a vehicle with a knife.

The Casterlines got back into their car and drove away. Bright said no one was injured in the incident.

An Iowa State Patrol trooper spotted the Casterlines’ vehicle at 5:42 p.m., waited for backup, and then stopped the vehicle on I-80 and took the two individuals into custody at 5:46 p.m.

The Casterlines were being held at the Jasper County Jail for being wanted in Webster County in south-central Nebraska for theft by unlawful taking. They were also both wanted in connection to a homicide in Nebraska.

Trial

Shelley Casterline pleaded guilty to a reduced murder charge. She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Adams County District Court in March.

District Judge Stephen Illingworth sentenced her on September 22, 2014.

At Andrew Casterline’s trial, Shelley Casterline testified that her son wasn't there when she stabbed Barone and that he did help her move the body.

Investigators believed Andrew Casterline also stabbed Barone because he had cuts on his hands that indicated he had wielded a knife.

The jury found Andrew Casterline guilty of first-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and burglary. He was set for sentencing in December and would get a mandatory life sentence for the murder charge.

Sentencing

District Judge Stephen Illingworth sentenced Shelley Casterline to 20 years to life in prison on September 22, 2014.

Appeals

No appeals were mentioned.

Outcome

Shelley Casterline pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison on September 22, 2014.

Andrew Casterline was found guilty of first-degree murder, use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and burglary, and was set for sentencing in December for a mandatory life sentence for the murder charge.