The crime occurred at a home at 1695 340th St in Tama, Iowa, on the Meskwaki Reservation. Image from Google Maps
Jonathan Youngbear, a member of the Meskwaki Tribe of Iowa, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for murdering his 17-year-old cousin. Youngbear pleaded guilty to a charge of second-degree murder. He admitted that he stabbed Severn Jefferson at a home on the reservation in February 2014. Youngbear faced life in prison with no possibility of parole. But the plea deal and his signs of remorse led to a lower sentenced, according to news reports. "In a plea agreement, Youngbear admitted that he stabbed Severn Jefferson twice in the neck and chest with a knife," the U.S. Attorney's Office said in a press release. "Youngbear further admitted that the victim bled to death as a result of the stab wounds. At the time he stabbed the victim, Youngbear was under the influence of alcohol and also had methamphetamine in his system." Get the Story:
Man convicted of stabbing death in ‘Indian Country’ sentenced to 25 years in prison (WQAD 5/13)
Jonathan Youngbear will serve 25 years for killing 17-year-old friend (The Cedar Rapids Gazette 5/14)
Youngbear sentenced to 25 years for killing cousin (The Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier 5/14)
Related Stories
Young member of Meskwaki
Tribe pleads guilty in murder case (01/28)
Join the Conversation
