Fugitive Husband: Iowa Man, Gregory Allen Showalter Sr, Guilty of Wife's Murder, Attempts Escape After Verdict

Just one day after avoiding the reading of his guilty verdict for the murder of his wife, an Iowa man, who had been out on bail, took drastic measures to evade justice. Gregory Allen Showalter Sr., aged 63, reportedly removed his GPS-equipped ankle monitor and powered off his cellphone, leading to his re-arrest on Saturday.

Showalter's bail was revoked, and he was returned to custody, awaiting his sentencing scheduled for October 16. 

The jury had just delivered a guilty verdict on Friday, finding him responsible for the strangulation murder of his wife, 60-year-old Helen Showalter. His convictions included first-degree murder, abuse of a corpse, willful injury causing serious harm, and domestic abuse assault by strangulation or impeding blood circulation. 

The potential sentence he faces is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Friday, Showalter's attorney attempted to reach him after learning of the jury's verdict, but there was no response. Concerned for his client's safety, the attorney, Robert Breckenridge, contacted the judge and law enforcement, requesting a welfare check at Showalter's residence.

Although the police did not locate Showalter at his home on Friday, they announced his re-arrest on Saturday, with specific details expected to be disclosed in an upcoming news conference on Monday, according to a post by the Ottumwa police on Facebook.

Jurors had started deliberating on Thursday afternoon following four days of testimony, which included Showalter taking the stand in his own defense.

The grim events unfolded on July 31, 2021, when prosecutors alleged that Showalter killed his wife of four decades amid their divorce proceedings. They claimed he lured her to a job site, murdered her, and disposed of her body in the Des Moines River. 

A passerby discovered her lifeless body in the river the following day, leading to Showalter's surrender to authorities on August 3, 2021. Despite the seriousness of the charges, he had been granted bail, contingent on wearing an ankle monitor, which, according to reports, he managed to remove.

Court records revealed that both Greg and Helen had previous run-ins with the law. 

Greg's record included numerous traffic and moving violations, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, marijuana possession, and unlawful possession of weapons. In 2001, he was convicted of failing to properly restrain his dog.

Helen had faced multiple traffic charges and moving violations over the years and was charged with keeping dangerous animals in 2000, a misdemeanor.

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