Iowa

DCI agent say he was fired for questioning Iowa college gambling probe

Published

3 weeks ago

March 10, 2026

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DCI agent say he was fired for questioning Iowa college gambling probe

A former Iowa investigator is suing the state, claiming he was fired for criticizing a high-profile college sports gambling probe.
Mark Ludwick alleges his termination was retaliation for testifying that investigators conducted illegal searches and were told to mislead students.
The gambling investigation, which led to charges against dozens of student-athletes, has faced legal challenges over its methods.

A longtime investigator for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says he was forced out of the agency because he voiced reservations about a high-profile investigation into gambling in college athletics.

Mark Ludwick was hired by Iowa’s top investigative agency in 1997 and was terminated in November 2024, according to a lawsuit filed Feb. 20 in Polk County. According to his complaint, Ludwick was fired after two “frivolous” investigations, one claiming he’d exceeded the speed limit driving to a murder scene, and the other for assistance he provided to a domestic abuse victim.

The real reason, Ludwick alleges, is that officials were embarrassed after Ludwick testified under oath about what he regarded as weaknesses in their sports wagering investigation, which resulted in dozens of Iowa State University and University of Iowa student-athletes facing suspensions, 25 being criminally charged and 19 pleading guilty to underage gambling.

Ludwick testified in early 2024 he believed investigators had conducted illegal searches to identify the online gamblers and that he and other agents had been directed to lie to students about whether they were subjects of the investigation. He also alleged that stress about the case contributed to another agent’s fatal heart attack, although the agent’s relatives disputed the connection.

Now Ludwick is accusing the state of violating Iowa’s whistleblower protection statute. He declined through his attorney to comment. The Iowa Attorney General’s Office also declined to comment, and the Iowa Department of Public Safety, which includes the DCI, did not respond to an inquiry about the case.

Gambling investigation raised constitutional concerns

In the gambling investigation, DCI investigators used software tools provided by GeoComply, a Canadian company that contracts with online sportsbooks like FanDuel and DraftKings, to look for evidence of illegal gambling activity. Using a GeoComply system, the investigators created a so-called “geofence” around college athletic facilities that allowed them to detect student athletes using wagering accounts registered to parents and friends to place bets ― sometimes on their own games.

Although the investigation resulted in numerous arrests and suspensions, it also drew controversy, in particular for agents’ failure to obtain warrants before conducting their location searches. GeoComply, which had encouraged Iowa to use its service, responded by cancelling the state’s access.

A large group of current and former students sued the state, accusing investigators of violating their constitutional rights. In November 2025, a federal judge ruled that the state’s investigation “does not comport with the Fourth Amendment,” which provides protection from illegal searches.

Nonetheless, the court dismissed the lawsuit, finding the officers involved were entitled to immunity. An appeal is pending.

Ludwick’s reservations emerge in depositions

Ludwick was an experienced investigator for the DCI, working on high-profile cases including the 2015 murder of Shirley Carter, whose son was tried and acquitted, and the 2017 deaths of two girls in a fire started by a relative.

While not the lead agent on the 2023 gambling investigation, Ludwick was tapped to assist by interviewing some of the student athletes. He later testified he grew concerned that the state’s geofence searches amounted to illegal, warrantless searches, and declined to participate in the case any further. He alleges that other DCI agents shared his concerns and also maneuvered to avoid being involved in the case.

Ludwick says he reported his concerns to his superiors. In January 2024, he was deposed by defense attorneys for four of the students, and “testified truthfully during his deposition that he believed an illegal search had been conducted.” Defense attorneys cited Ludwick’s remarks within days in filings covered by numerous media outlets, including the Des Moines Register, which “caused embarrassment and increased scrutiny for the Iowa Department of Public Safety, Commissioner Bayens, and other employees,” Ludwick’s suit states.

According to the complaint, officials launched an investigation into Ludwick for speeding on March 5, weeks after the embarrassing testimony was reported. On Aug. 8, officials initiated a second investigation after, Ludwick says, “he attempted to help a victim of domestic abuse flee her abuser.” He denies his actions violated Iowa law or department policy.

William Morris covers courts for the Des Moines Register. He can be contacted at wrmorris2@registermedia.com or 715-573-8166.

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Iowa

Top Returning Iowa High School Boys Tennis Players

Published

9 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Top Returning Iowa High School Boys Tennis Players

The weather might still not be great, but the high school boys’ tennis season has started in Iowa.

Over the years, some high-level players have competed in Iowa, and this year is no different.

Defending Class 1A state champion Charlie LeGrand of Cedar Rapids Xavier is back, as are runners-up Easton Moon from North Polk and Dylan Schulte of Cedar Rapids Prairie.

Here is a look at some of the top players in Iowa high school boys tennis. Stats are from those on the official Bound website.

Iowa High School Boys Tennis Top Returning Players

Charlie LeGrand, Cedar Rapids Xavier, Senior

LeGrand returns off a state-title junior season that saw him finish 14-3 overall.

Easton Moon, North Polk, Senior

Moon lost just once last year, falling to Charlie LeGrand of Cedar Rapids Xavier in the 1A final. He was 29-1 overall winning nearly 300 games.

Dylan Schulte, Cedar Rapids Prairie, Sophomore

The 2A runner-up to his brother, Anthony Schulte, Dylan Schulte went a perfect 17-0 competing at No. 2 for the Hawks as a freshman.

Noah Narmi, Council Bluffs St. Albert, Senior

Narmi had a strong junior season, going 21-7 overall and competing at the state tournament in 1A.

Parker Stroh, Columbus Catholic, Junior

In 20 matches last year, Stroh lost just two, going 33-6 overall in sets played while reaching the state singles tournament.

Lucas Persson, North Scott, Senior

Persson finished with a perfect 17-0 record in the regular season, dropping just two sets in 32 played. He was a qualifier for the 2A state singles tournament.

Jonathan Pyatak, Chariton, Junior

As a sophomore, Pyatak was tough to beat, compiling a mark of 16-4 overall at No. 1.

Tyler Grote, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Senior

Grote enters his senior season off a 15-2 campaign last spring that saw him reach the state tournament in 1A.

Leif Lundberg, Clear Lake, Senior

Like Grote, Lundberg went 15-2 competing at the No. 1 spot for the Lions, while also qualifying for state.

Garrett Bauermeister, Linn-Mar, Senior

Bauermeister went 30-6 in sets played at the top spot, finishing with a 15-2 record and a spot at the 2A state tournament.

William Feagler, Iowa City High, Sophomore

The talented second-year player had a big freshman season, going 15-1 at No. 2 and qualifying for state.

Karthik Ganesh, Pleasant Valley, Senior

Competing at the No. 2 spot in the order, Ganesh went 14-2 last season, losing just three sets.

Joseph Wright, Sergeant Bluff-Luton, Senior

Wright forms a strong 1-2 punch with Grote, as he was 14-1 with just one lost set last year at the second spot.

Aadil Patel, Johnston, Sophomore

The Dragons are always tough, and Patel looks to keep that true this year after putting together a 13-3 mark at No. 2 that saw himq qualify for state singles.

Joshua Dcruz, Pleasant Valley, Junior

Unbeaten is unbeaten, and that’s what Dcruz was at No. 3 last year, going 16-0 without losing a set.

Caleb Rasmussen, Marshalltown, Senior

Another unbeaten player at No. 3 last spring was Rasmussen, as he went 12-0 and lost just one set all year.

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Iowa

Iowa man found guilty in 1989 cold case murder of his girlfriend

Published

21 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

Iowa man found guilty in 1989 cold case murder of his girlfriend

COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — A Council Bluffs man is convicted of killing his girlfriend, nearly four decades after she disppeared.

Barbara Lenz was last seen in Woodbine on Saturday, May 6, 1989.

On Tuesday, it only took a jury less than four hours to convict Robert Davis, now 62, of second-degree murder.

Davis was arrested and charged with murder last year. Online court documents say Davis assaulted and choked Lenz several times during their two-year relationship.

A criminal complaint says Lenz told other people she was in fear of Davis and trying to leave him.

This was the first arrest and now first conviction for a case that the newly formed Iowa Cold Case Unit has helped investigate. It was an initiative pushed by Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird.

“No one should get away with murder. Barbara Lenz’s family has been waiting nearly 37 years for justice,” said Attorney General Bird. “Today, after long last, they have it. Robert Davis will spend the rest of his life in prison. I am deeply grateful to Cold Case Prosecutor Scott Brown and Harrison County Attorney Sarah Delanty and her office for their hard work in securing this conviction. And thank you again to the investigators in our Iowa Cold Case Unit, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Woodbine Police Department who worked hard and never gave up on Barbara’s case.”

Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2026.

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Iowa

Northeastern Iowa man sentenced to 120 years in prison for child sexual abuse

Published

1 day ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Northeastern Iowa man sentenced to 120 years in prison for child sexual abuse

ALLAMAKEE COUNTY, Iowa (KCRG) – A Waterville man was sentenced to 120 years in prison Tuesday after authorities say he potentially committed more than 100 acts of sexual abuse.

54-year-old Jonathon Hilleshiem was convicted of four counts of second-degree sexual abuse, lascivious acts with a child, and sexual exploitation of a minor – possess depiction of a minor in sex act.

Hilleshiem was initially charged with four counts of sexual abuse in the second degree and one count of lascivious acts with a child in July 2025.

In August 2025, police executed search warrants and additionally charged Hilleshiem with one count of sexual exploitation of a minor – possess depiction of a minor in sex act.

As part of the investigation, the child spoke to authorities about the abuse.

A criminal complaint shows authorities believe there may be more than 100 acts of sexual abuse that occurred between 2014 and 2020.

Hilleshiem was also sentenced to lifetime supervision by the Iowa Department of Corrections and must register as a sex offender.

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