Photo: Osborn Eugene Gavel
A Mountain Home man is in the Hardin County, Iowa, jail facing first-degree murder charges.
Twenty-two-year-old Osborn Eugene Gavel’s charge stems from the beating death of 74-year-old Steve Reece, according to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
Reece, in Union, Iowa, was known to allow people going through hard times to stay at his residence. The victim was also said to buy groceries for people in the community and to give rides if asked.
It is reported Gavel and several others stayed in the residence the night before the body was found.
In an interview with an Iowa television station, a clerk at a convenience store the victim frequented said it was concerning that the elderly man let people who were down-and-out into his home. She said family, friends and neighbors were worried about him, fearing that he might be hurt or worse by one of the people he sheltered.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about 5:30 Tuesday morning reporting an unresponsive male at Reece’s address. An Iowa television station, citing information in the criminal complaint, says a female made the call from Reece’s residence and reported to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office that a man was “bleeding from the head” and “was not conscious or breathing.”
According to the sheriff’s office, it is believed Reece died after allegedly being struck by Gavel.
Reece was pronounced dead by an EMS crew that responded to the scene.
A deputy is reported to have seen a crowbar in the hallway outside the bedroom where Reece’s body was found. Gavel is alleged to have told investigators he found the crowbar in the garage of the residence, concealed it in his pants, went into Reece’s bedroom and hit him in the head multiple times.
No information has been made public as to the motive behind the slaying.
According to electronic court records, Gavel is being held in the Hardin County jail with bond set at $1 million cash.
A preliminary hearing for Gavel is set in Hardin County Oct. 22.
Gavel has an open criminal case in Baxter County. He was arrested May 28 on drug-related charges stemming from a traffic stop.
A Mountain Home police officer pulled over the vehicle in which Gavel was a passenger.
During the stop, it was discovered that both the driver and Gavel had active arrest warrants.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Gavel claimed ownership to a black backpack containing several different drug types.
He is charged in Baxter County Circuit Court with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
He was free on a $5,000 bond at the time of his arrest in Iowa.
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