Council Bluffs Man Convicted in 1989 Girlfriend Murder

Jury finds suspect guilty after cold case investigation reopened decades later

Apr. 3, 2026 at 9:13pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a single handcuff, the metal surface reflecting a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the gritty investigation that led to a decades-old murder conviction.A recent cold case investigation led to the conviction of a man for a 1989 murder, underscoring the importance of persistent efforts to uncover the truth.Council Bluffs Today

A jury in Council Bluffs, Iowa has convicted a local man for the 1989 murder of his girlfriend, Barbara Lenz, whose disappearance went unsolved for nearly 40 years until a recent cold case investigation was reopened.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of persistent investigations into unsolved crimes, even decades later, as new forensic techniques and witness testimony can sometimes uncover the truth. It also underscores the trauma experienced by victims' families who wait years for justice.

The details

Prosecutors presented evidence that Robert Simmons, now 64 years old, killed Lenz during a domestic dispute in 1989 and then disposed of her body, which was never recovered. The case went cold for decades until new DNA evidence and witness statements emerged, prompting authorities to reopen the investigation in 2024.

  • The murder occurred in Council Bluffs, Iowa in June 1989.
  • The case went unsolved for nearly 40 years until a cold case investigation was reopened in 2024.
  • The jury delivered its guilty verdict on April 3, 2026.

The players

Robert Simmons

A 64-year-old Council Bluffs resident who was convicted of murdering his girlfriend Barbara Lenz in 1989.

Barbara Lenz

The victim, a Council Bluffs woman who disappeared in 1989 and whose body was never recovered until the recent cold case investigation.

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What they’re saying

“This verdict brings some closure to the Lenz family after so many years of unanswered questions and grief.”

— District Attorney Sarah Wilkins, Prosecutor

What’s next

Simmons will be sentenced in June 2026. Prosecutors are hopeful the conviction will finally provide the Lenz family with answers and a sense of justice, even without a recovered body.

The takeaway

This case underscores the importance of persistent cold case investigations, as new forensic and witness evidence can sometimes uncover the truth decades later, offering closure to victims' families and holding perpetrators accountable no matter how much time has passed.