DES MOINES, Iowa — A Lenox man was arrested Monday for allegedly shooting his elder brother in the head in mid June and leaving his lifeless body in a field in rural Adair County.
Dustin James Seley, 42, of 1060 242nd St., Lenox, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of his brother, Timothy Fechter, 58, of Creston.
Fechter was reported missing June 20 to the Creston Police Department, and his “severely decomposed” body was discovered July 1, according to court records. A “spent .38 caliber shell casing was located near the body.”
The arrest of Seley came as part of a two-month investigation by the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Creston Police Department, the Union County Sheriff’s office and the Adair County Sheriff’s office.
An autopsy by the office of the State Medical Examiner determined that Fechter died from a single .38 caliber gunshot wound to the head as well as blunt force trauma. The manner of death was ruled a homicide.
Seley allegedly told his sister June 20 that he “had left Fechter out on a dirt road and had taken his pickup and cellular phone,” and he allegedly told his daughter June 21 “that he had killed Fechter,” according to court records.
Seley allegedly told another acquaintance “that he had ‘popped that boy,'” according to court records.
Seley was arrested June 29 in Creston on charges of eluding and third or subsequent offense possession of a controlled substance. He was held in the Union County Jail.
Seley was interviewed June 29 by DCI Agents who were investigating the disappearance of Fechter. Seley allegedly told the officers “that he and Fechter had drove out into the country to dump shingles,” and “he and Fechter had gotten into an argument and that the last time he saw Fechter was when he drove away in Fechter’s pickup truck,” according to court records.
A search warrant was ordered July 19 in Adams County District Court for a 2008 Toyota Prius belonging to Seley. Investigators were seeking “electronic devices, weapons or ammunition” and “blood/hair evidence,” according to court records.
A sample of Seley’s DNA was obtained July 30, according to court records.
Seley has been transferred to the Adair County Jail to await prosecution for first-degree murder.
*A criminal charge is merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
