Woden man loses attempt to suppress evidence at upcoming murder trial

GARNER — A Woden man’s attempt to suppress evidence from an interview with a law enforcement agent in his upcoming murder trial has been denied.

57-year-old Roger Crews Junior is accused of murdering his wife Karen on October 27th of last year. Authorities found Karen Crews dead after responding to a call for a welfare check at their home on the morning of October 28th. A criminal complaint states Roger Crews was the one who made that call to authorities. Crews was arrested later that night in Freeborn County Minnesota and charged with first-degree murder.

Crews in June filed a motion to suppress evidence dealing with an interview he had with an Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation special agent in the Freeborn County Jail. Court documents say about an hour and 46 minutes into the interview that Crews became emotional and told the agent “I’m done here” and that he wanted an attorney. The agent suggested a break be taken, and after the break, the agent asked Crews if he needed anything else. Crews inquired about his wife’s condition, with the agent telling him that she was dead. Crews then started to talk about an incident that took place in the hallway by the bathroom.

District Judge Gregg Rosenbladt in his ruling issued earlier this week states that despite the break in the interview, Crews knowingly and voluntarily waived his Miranda rights prior to the interview and that the entire interview and a second interview later held at the Winnebago County Jail be allowed into evidence at Crews’ trial, which is scheduled to start on October 7th.

If convicted of first-degree murder, a Class A felony, Crews would face the rest of his life in prison without the opportunity for parole.