Suspect in Marion quadruple murder deemed competent to stand trial in April 2025

A suspect who allegedly killed four people in Marion has been ruled competent to stand trial, according to a medical assessment.

Luke Truesdell, 34, was charged with four counts of first-degree murder after police say he allegedly used a metal pipe to beat four people to death outside the Cedar Rapids suburb in June.

The court ordered a medical assessment in late July. Truesdell underwent a psychiatric evaluation to see if he was suffering from a mental disorder that would limit him during the criminal proceedings.

The Iowa Medical Classification Center's evaluation found that Truesdell "is competent to stand trial," according to court fillings on Monday. The court said that Truesdell's attorney did not provide additional evidence to suggest incompetence and agreed he could stand trial.

A July 24 court order suspended criminal proceedings until evaluation results were returned. That order has been lifted and a jury trial is set to begin on April 8, 2025.

More: Fourth victim in Marion killings has died, suspect charged again with first-degree murder

Movie may have been motive for killings

Police identified the three people dead at the scene as Romondus Lamar Cooper, 44, of Cedar Rapids; Keonna Victoria Ryan, 26, of Cedar Rapids; and Amanda Sue Parker, 33, of Vinton. A fourth person, Brent Anthony Brown, 34, of Marion, died two days later.

Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner told The Des Moines Register in June that Truesdell allegedly wanted the crime to be made into a movie.

"It is my understanding that he was assuming that a movie would be made of the crime," Gardner said. "As to my knowledge, he did not record the crime."

Truesdell met with police when they arrived at the crime scene and allegedly admitted that he had hit the four victims with a metal pipe. A pipe with blood and hair on it was discovered at the scene, according to a criminal complaint.

Truesdell pleaded not guilty in June and waived his right to a speedy trial in July.

More: Movie may be possible motive behind Linn County killings, police say; Marion man arrested

Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at [email protected] or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.

This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Marion murder suspect found competent to stand trial in April 2025