Iowa's Cold Case Unit Secures First Conviction

Jury finds man guilty of 1989 murder of former girlfriend despite lack of body

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:45pm

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A jury in Pottawattamie County, Iowa has convicted 62-year-old Robert Davis of Council Bluffs for the 1989 murder of his former girlfriend, 25-year-old Barbara Lenz, whose body has never been found. The case marks the first conviction for Iowa's Cold Case Unit, which was established in 2024.

Why it matters

This conviction demonstrates the persistence and effectiveness of Iowa's Cold Case Unit in pursuing justice for victims and their families, even decades after a crime was committed and despite the lack of a recovered body. It provides hope that other long-unsolved cases may finally see resolution.

The details

Investigators said Lenz had previously told others that she feared her boyfriend, Robert Davis, would kill her if she left him. Davis was arrested a year ago and a Pottawattamie County jury has now found him guilty of second-degree murder in Lenz's death.

  • The murder of Barbara Lenz occurred in 1989.
  • Davis was arrested a year ago in 2025.
  • The jury delivered the guilty verdict on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.

The players

Robert Davis

A 62-year-old man from Council Bluffs, Iowa who was convicted of murdering his former girlfriend Barbara Lenz in 1989.

Barbara Lenz

A 25-year-old woman from Woodbine, Iowa who was murdered by her boyfriend Robert Davis in 1989, though her body has never been found.

Iowa's Cold Case Unit

A specialized investigative team established in July 2024 to pursue justice for victims in long-unsolved criminal cases across the state.

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What’s next

The judge will determine Robert Davis's sentence for the second-degree murder conviction at a hearing in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of specialized investigative units dedicated to solving cold cases, as well as the possibility of achieving justice even when a victim's body is never recovered. It provides hope to other families seeking closure for unsolved crimes.