A Mother's Tragic End: How Jodie Bevans Was Killed by Her Stepdaughter in a Shocking Act of Betrayal
No one ever expects danger to come from within their own home.
But in July 2022, a beloved mother was brutally killed by her own stepdaughter in the town of Palo, Iowa.
This chilling true crime case ultimately left a family shattered, and a quiet community stunned.
Let's get into the details
The Shocking Discovery
Inside the residence, they discovered the lifeless body of 58-year-old Jodie Bevans in a bedroom.
According to Gazette News, she was suffocated to death.
Jodie Bevans was a longtime resident of the community and a loving stepmother to several children, including Samantha Bevans.
She was known by family members as a kind and forgiving person who helped others and maintained peace within the home.
Her family described her as having a "pure soul" and appreciated the stability she brought to their lives.
Her kind and caring nature made her sudden death feel very suspicious, leading to a detailed investigation into what happened.
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| Jodie Bevans |
How Were the Jodie Bevans Killers Caught?
On July 17, 2022, an autopsy confirmed that Jodie Bevans' death was indeed a murder.
According to the medical examiner’s report, she died from asphyxiation.
Forensic experts also found signs of bleeding in her neck, which suggested that someone suffocated her.
This discovery made detectives investigate further to know who might have wanted her dead.
Soon after, criminal investigations led detectives to Samantha Bevans, Jodie's 34-year-old stepdaughter.
During a search of Samantha’s belongings, Investigators found a handwritten note that said “Kill Jodie"
Several witnesses confirmed that Jodie and Samantha often argued because Samantha always stole from Jodie.
They also recalled hearing Samantha repeatedly threaten to hurt Jodie during their arguments.
In fact, Samantha had verbally threatened Jodie in the days before her death because she was kicked out, according to online reports.
These statements aligned with the note found in her possession, so detectives dug deeper.
A search warrant was obtained for Samantha’s devices and more damning digital evidence was recovered.
On her Snapchat account, forensic experts found a chilling video created shortly after the crime.
In the video, Samantha admitted to killing Jodie Bevans with her boyfriend, Tacoa Talley, who was also in the Snapchat video.
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| Samantha Bevans |
During her initial interview with the police, Samantha gave a detailed confession.
Samantha reportedly demonstrated how she placed a pillow over Jodie’s face and pressed it down with her foot.
Even though she later changed her story, police say this confession was consistent with the medical findings.
After her confession, Samantha was arrested immediately and her boyfriend Tacoa Talley was arrested the next day.
Both were charged with first-degree murder and faced life in prison without the possibility of parole.
According to police reports, Samantha and her accomplice, Tacoa Talley, not only discussed the crime beforehand but also celebrated it afterward in a Snapchat video.
Their phone records, video evidence, confessions, and witness statements provided a clear picture of what happened on the day Jodie Bevans was killed.
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| Tacoa Talley |
Justice For Jodie Bevans
During the trial, Samantha Bevans tried to shift the blame to her boyfriend, 38-year-old Tacoa Talley.
She claimed that her boyfriend killed her stepmother.
Samantha admitted to placing a pillow on Jodie's face and standing on it, but she claimed she removed her legs from the pillow after Jodie vomited.
She claimed Jodie was still alive at this point before her boyfriend committed the killing.
She said Tacoa Talley was controlling and that she made the Snapchat video under duress.
She claimed she only went to the house that day to pick up her clothes before Tacoa allegedly told her to kill her stepmother.
However, a Benton County jury didn't believe her due to the overwhelming evidence.
Prosecutors argued that Samantha killed her stepmother after she kicked her out of their home for stealing.
In May 2024, she was found guilty of first-degree murder after just an hour of deliberation.
During her emotional sentencing in June 2024, Sixth Judicial District Judge Chad Kepros handed her a life sentence without parole.
She was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to Jodie’s family.
Tacoa Talley was also sentenced to life in prison for Jodie’s murder, as reported by CBS2Iowa
At the sentencing, Jodie’s children and stepchildren delivered powerful victim impact statements.
Her son, Davis McKenna, said his mother’s death had turned his world dark.
Stepdaughter Kellie Hughes described the trauma of discovering Jodie’s body—and the lifelong effect it had on her children
In the end, justice may have been served, but the emotional toll continues.
Got a tip about a crime? Please contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS immediately.
You can also see how to report a crime anonymously online if you wish to remain anonymous.
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