Caledonia Argus

Meyer charged in Sullivan murder

Posted: 12/16/03

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

A New Albin man will stand trial in Houston County for two counts of second degree murder in the death of Mark William Sullivan, 24, on December 8.

Justin Robert Meyer, 23, is charged with killing Sullivan at 304 North Sprague Street in Caledonia. Meyer has also been charged in Allamakee County, Iowa, with kidnapping a woman and subjecting her to sexual abuse.

Here are the facts, according to the two criminal complaints:

The shooting occurred at about 3:30 a.m. on Monday, December 8, after Meyer broke into the womanís house, where Sullivan had been since about 5 p.m. the previous night. The woman is a former girlfriend of Meyer, and they have a one-year-old child in common.

Meyer spoke briefly to Sullivan, then shot him in the head with a shotgun. He then threatened to kill the woman and himself. He brandished a shotgun at the woman and their child on numerous occasions while at her house. She felt her life was at substantial risk all this time. She tried to leave twice but was unable to do so. Meyer took her and the infant to his parentsí home at 518 North Main Street in New Albin, Iowa. He had the barrel of the shotgun on the victimís leg, and the stock of the gun on his lap. He then had sexual intercourse with her against her will.

The woman was able to call 911 at about 7:30 a.m. to report that she had been kidnapped. At about the same time, Meyer called the Allamakee County Sheriffís Office and asked to speak with an officer. New Albin officer Don Ingalls responded to the New Albin house, where Meyer told him he had killed someone in Caledonia, and that the gun was still in the back of his truck.

Houston County Sheriffís Department Deputy Mike Ernster and Caledonia City Police Officer Gary Bubbers went to the womanís residence after receiving a call from the dispatcher in Allamakee County. They found Sullivanís body there, concealed under a pile of clothing on the bed.

Houston County court appearance date uncertain

Meyer faces a maximum of 40 years in prison in Minnesota if found guilty on either of the two counts of second degree murder.

Houston County Attorney Rick Jackson said that Meyer is charged with two counts because authorities believe that he intentionally took the life of another, and that he took the life of another during the commission of a separate felony .

ìWhat it amounts to is two different laws that we believe his conduct violated,î Jackson said. A jury will choose which of the two charges is appropriate, if the case goes to trial.

Jackson may ask a grand jury to hand down an indictment for first-degree intentional homicide, but he will not make that decision until he has had time to review all the police files.

Meyerís first court appearance on kidnapping charges will be at the Allamakee County Courthouse in Waukon on December 17 at 11:30 a.m. He faces life in prison without possibility of parole in Iowa if convicted of kidnapping.

Jackson has requested Meyerís extradition, but he does not know when Meyer will appear in Houston County Court, because Iowa has the right to retain him until prosecution.

ìWe might have a clearer picture in a few weeks,î Jackson said.

ìWork on the case is ongoing,î Jackson said. ìThe investigation prepares reports and obtains evidence that I will be reviewing.î He said he will seek help on this from the Minnesota Attorney Generalís office.

ìA homicide investigation is extremely time consuming and a lot of work goes into it,î Jackson said. ìGiven the size of our office, itís [assistance from the attorney general] an appropriate way to ensure that this case gets the full attention that it requires while also allowing my office to handle other duties it is required to perform.î

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