The Ankeny Police Department has identified a woman who died from an apparent stab wound.
Sharon Jellue, 30, of Ankeny, was found dead when police conducted a welfare check at her apartment on Monday, Jan. 5. An investigation determined she had fatal injuries.
Jellue was living with her long-time partner, Johnson Chayee Browne, 32, who was charged with first degree murder in connection to her death.
According to new court filings, Jellue had defensive wounds on her hands and a deep puncture laceration on her neck. Police allegedly found a thin cord, believed to be used to strangle her, near her neck, the court documents say. Evidence indicates Browne fled out of a second story window from the apartment.
A bloody knife was found near a vehicle Browne was attempting to break in to and blood believed to be Jellue’s was under his nails, according to court documents.
Police confronted Browne during the attempted break-in around 5:30 p.m. Sunday. He was taken into custody for allegedly assaulting police as he resisted arrest. He already was in jail on charges of assault on a police officer and interference with official acts when he was charged with first-degree murder Monday.
He remains in the Polk County Jail on a $1 million cash bond.
An investigation into Jellue’s death remains open. The Ankeny Police Department has asked anyone with information to contact them at 515-286-3333, extension 5.
Kyle Werner is the Breaking News & Public Safety Reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny victim had ‘deep’ laceration to her neck, court documents say
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
