Des Moines man arrested, charged with woman’s murder

DES MOINES, Iowa — Police have arrested a Des Moines man in the death of a woman who was brought to a hospital early Friday morning with blunt-force injuries and died.

Derrick A. Earnest, 60, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of a 49-year-old woman, according to Sgt. Paul Parizek with the Des Moines Police Department.

The victim was in a domestic relationship with Earnest.

Police were initially called to UnityPoint Health-Iowa Methodist Medical Center to investigate a report of a stabbing victim just before 3:00 a.m.

The investigation revealed the woman had blunt-force traumatic injuries among other wounds. Sgt. Parizek said she died despite life-saving efforts. An autopsy will be completed to confirm the cause of death.

Police have determined the scene of the incident was the 1100 block of 14th Place. Evidence gathered at that scene shows Earnest assaulting the woman. He drove the victim to the hospital about 56 minutes after the assault, Sgt. Parizek said.

Earnest has been booked into the Polk County Jail.

The woman’s name is not being released at this time in order to give authorities the chance to notify family members.

This is Des Moines’ third homicide of 2024.

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