'A Lynching': Iowa Man Killed, Then Burned Black Man Out of Jealousy Related to Girlfriend

Photo: Iowa Department of Public Safety (2)

A 32-year-old Iowa man will spend the rest of his life in prison for killing 44-year-old Michael Williams, a judge announced Monday.

In November,Steven Vogel, a white man, was convicted of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse after beating and hanging Williams, a Black man, in 2020, then throwing his body in a ditch and setting it on fire days later.

During the trial, witnesses testified that Vogel told at least three people that he killed Williams out of jealousy, referencing a love triangle involving his girlfriend, theDes Moines Registerreports.

Vogel and Williams were known acquaintances who socialized in the same circles.

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Three others were charged with assisting Vogel after he murdered Williams: Vogel’s mother, Julia Cox; his mother’s boyfriend, Roy Garner; and Vogel’s friend, Cody Johnson.

Through witness interviews, investigators learned that on or around Sept. 12, 2020, Vogel “clubbed” Williams — whom he called “Black Mike,” according to Johnson — then strangled him to death.

Williams' body was reportedly stored in Vogel’s basement in Grinnell, Iowa, until Sept. 16, when it was discarded in the Kellogg ditch and set on fire.

‘Dangerous and Cold-Blooded Killer’

During Vogel’s sentencing — in which he was ordered to life in prison without the possibility of parole — Judge Shawn Showers said that the killer doesn’t deserve to be on the streets or ever meet a parole board, Iowa Public Radio reports.

“These sentences are made for people like you who commit these horrific offenses and take others' lives without any regard for consequences,” Showers said. “You are a dangerous cold-blooded killer. You’ll have the rest of your life to think about what you did, the loss and the pain that you caused, and the precious life that you ended.”

He added: “You treated Michael Williams like he was not human. You clubbed him. Strangled him to death. Kept him in your basement like an animal that you would kill. You wrapped up his body, set it on fire. And you dehumanized Michael Williams. And Mr. Williams did not deserve that.”

Though investigators and the regional chapter of the NAACP have both stated Vogel’s actions don’t appear to be racially motivated, Williams' family believes it’s a hate crime reminiscent of the 1955 lynching ofEmmett Till— a Black teen who was hanged after a white woman falsely accused him of lewd behavior.

Though the prosecution in Vogel’s trial did not focus on race, Williams' family is content with his sentencing, Iowa Public Radio reports — and thankful to the all-white jury for unanimously returning guilty verdicts in less than four hours.

“[The justice system] worked here,” said James Byrd-Williams, Williams' father. “I’m satisfied.”

source: people.com