Bevers-McGivney to continue serving life in prison
Court of Appeals upholds first-degree murder conviction
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ROCKWELL CITY -- A Gowrie man will continue serving life in prison after a court upheld his 2025 conviction for murder.
The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that there is enough evidence to convict Nathaniel Bevers-McGivney in the murder of 17-year-old Michele "Luna" Jackson in Farnhamville on Sept. 22, 2024.
Prosecutors said Bevers-McGivney stabbed Jackson 26 times, cut her throat and hid her body in a garbage bin.
"As with our analysis of malice aforethought, the evidence showing that Bevers-McGivney stabbed M.J. multiple times creates an inference of deliberation," the Iowa Court of Appeals judges wrote in their ruling. "Also, the use "of a deadly weapon, if accompanied by an opportunity to deliberate … is evidence from which a trier of fact may find malice, deliberation, premeditation, and specific intent to kill.
"Further, Bevers-McGivney attempted to conceal the murder by hiding M.J.'s body in a trash bin and moving the bin away from public view," the judges wrote. "He also threw away the knife handle. Lastly, Bevers-McGivney also argues that an absence of proven motive may affect whether he acted with premeditation, specific intent, or deliberation. Motive is not a necessary element of first-degree murder and is simply a consideration the factfinder may make in analyzing mens rea elements."
Bevers-McGivney was found guilty in Calhoun County District Court of first-degree murder. He asked for a lesser charge, claiming there was insufficient evidence to show that the killing was pre-meditated.
The Iowa Court of Appeals upheld his conviction.
Bevers-McGivney will continue serving life in prison without the possibility of parole.