First-degree murder charge filed against Rockwell City man

Charges follow April 12 UTV collision in Calhoun County

ROCKWELL CITY -- A Rockwell City man is facing a murder charge following an April 12 collision in rural Calhoun County.

Jaxyn Stone Blum, 21, was charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in the death of Kyle Rath, 19, and with the attempted murder of Roger King, 21, according to the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office.

According to Calhoun County Sheriff Pat Riley, on April 12 at approximately 9:02 p.m. at the intersection of 290th Street and Harris Avenue, a pickup truck driven by Blum struck a utility terrain vehicle occupied by Rath and King. Rath died at the scene. King was transported to a Des Moines hospital with serious injuries.

According to court documents, "Blum acted with malice aforethought, willfully, deliberately, with premeditation, and with a specific intent to kill Rath."

Court documents also state that Blum drove his truck into the rear of the utility terrain vehicle King was driving. Blum "expected to set in motion a force or chain of events that would cause or result in the death of King. When he acted, Blum specifically intended to cause the death of King."

The incident was investigated by the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa State Patrol, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Bureau, the Manson Police Department, and the Calhoun County Attorney's Office.