No motive has been released in the murder of a young Newton man early Saturday morning. Jasper County Attorney Steve Johnson claims 17-year-old Tyler Oberhart of Newton and 19-year-old Justin Allan Robuck who has address in Newton and Des Moines, planned out their attack on 19-year-old Jerry Pittman the Second. Johnson claims Pittman, Robuck and Oberhart knew each other.
The county attorney says the murder likely took place around 4 A.M. Saturday outside the home of Pittman’s parents. The 19-year-old’s body wasn’t discovered until around 11:30 that morning. Johnson described the murder weapon as a sharp instrument or instruments. Robuck was the first suspect arrested and turned himself in to police in Des Moines Sunday afternoon. He’s charged with first-degree murder.
Oberhart was arrested around 9:30 last night and is being held in the Jasper County Jail on a one-million dollar bond, while Robuck is being held without bond.