Mysterious Discovery on Iowa Highway: Dead Man Concealed in Stalled Car

Iowa state troopers, responding to a routine call to assist a stranded motorist, stumbled upon a macabre and unexpected scene. Concealed under a pile of clothing in a stalled car, they found the lifeless body of a man who had been shot twice.

Charges and Arrest

The driver of the vehicle, identified as Jihad Abdul Malik Gasaway, a 23-year-old, initially faced charges of abuse of a corpse. He was promptly taken into custody and booked into Poweshiek County Jail on a $50,000 bail, according to an Iowa Department of Public Safety press release.

Grave Turn of Events

However, the situation took a grave turn when an autopsy concluded that the victim, Kemp Xavier Sherrod Harriel, had met a tragic end through homicide. Subsequently, Gasaway faced an additional charge of first-degree murder. The press release did not clarify whether this new development led to an increase in Gasaway's bail.

The Discovery

The unsettling discovery unfolded as state troopers noticed a silver Chevy Malibu parked on the shoulder of Interstate 80. The driver, Gasaway, was standing beside the vehicle at approximately 8:10 a.m. on that fateful Tuesday. He had requested a jump-start for his stalled car.

The Unveiling

Upon closer inspection, Gasaway admitted to having a firearm in his possession. This revelation prompted the troopers to secure the weapon. As they delved further, they noticed an unresponsive man concealed beneath a mound of clothing inside the vehicle, an attempt by Gasaway to conceal the body. Tragically, it was evident that the man had suffered two gunshot wounds to his chest.

A Startling Omission

An arrest affidavit revealed that Gasaway had not informed anyone of the man inside the vehicle or dialed 911 to request medical assistance. He had also neglected to inform the troopers at the scene that there was a person in need of medical attention or a deceased individual in the car.

A Puzzling Reaction

Remarkably, while seated in the trooper's car and observing the officers' encounter with the lifeless body, Gasaway could be heard on a recording saying, "please be OK."

The Investigation

Further investigation yielded the discovery of a spent 9 mm shell casing on the car's floor and two fired bullets lodged in the passenger door. These findings matched Gasaway's Taurus 9 mm handgun, as determined by later crime lab testing.

Gasaway's Account

During questioning at the Poweshiek County Sheriff's Office, Gasaway claimed that he and Harriel had embarked on a journey from Cedar Rapids to Des Moines that morning. He insisted that he was unaware of Harriel's condition until he witnessed the reaction of the police.

A Baffling Explanation

Gasaway explained that he believed Harriel was merely very cold and that he had covered him with clothing to keep him warm, both of them suffering from the cold. He asserted, "I just waited for the police."

A Puzzling Response

When asked whether Harriel was alive when they drove into the ditch, Gasaway responded in the affirmative. However, when questioned about what had transpired with Harriel, his response was simply, "we got into it."

The situation remains under investigation as authorities seek to unravel the mysteries surrounding this perplexing case.