Jonathan Memmer was convicted of two counts of murder by a Johnson County jury yesterday. The Marshalltown 26-year-old will face a mandatory life sentence in the March 1999 beating deaths of two women in an Iowa City apartment, which was set on fire to hide evidence.
Michelle Lehner is the sister of Maria Lehner, one of the two victims. Michelle Lehner says the trial left her emotionally spent as they sat through each day’s testimony.
Jim Watson is the father of Laura Dalton, the other victim. Watson was in the courtroom last week as Memmer told his side of the story. He says watching Memmer’s testimony was “very, very difficult.”
Memmer will be sentenced November 21st.