Brianne McIntosh, 28, had been missing for nearly two months before her body was discovered in a remote location in Fremont County. Justin Sickler, a Council Bluffs resident, was initially charged with first-degree murder in her death, as well as abuse of a corpse and theft.
- A few weeks ago, her father, Tommy Thompson, learned that Sickler was taking a plea deal.
- The family doesn’t like the idea that Sickler could plead to lesser charges and be out of prison on parole in twelve years.
- Her father said, “The best I could hope for was life in prison without parole and now that’s even being taken away.”
- McIntosh leaves behind seven children.
Victim’s family is outraged after Iowa man linked to woman’s death takes plea deal.
Brianne McIntosh, according to investigators, was killed in Council Bluffs and her body dumped in Fremont County.
I am Katrina Markel, a Southwest Iowa neighborhood reporter.
The man charged with Brianne’s death has pleaded guilty, but not to first-degree murder. Her family claims that is not justice.
Her father, Tommy Thompson, stated, “The best I could hope for was life in prison without parole, and now that is even being taken away.”
Brianne had been missing for two months when her brother, Alec Thompson, told their father, Tommy, the news.
“Alec came in and told me to sit down,” he said, fighting back tears. “That her body had been discovered.” And she had died.”
Justin Sickler was arrested in October and charged with first-degree murder, abusing a corpse, and theft.
“It kind of all started a nightmare from there,” Tommy told me.
The pathologist could not say for certain what caused the 28-year-old’s death. However, investigators used GPS records to locate McIntosh at Sickler’s home and Sickler at the site where McIntosh’s body was discovered.
“She genuinely had so much potential and she just – in life – had been dealt such a horrible hand,” Alec, her boyfriend, told me.
The Thompsons informed me that Sickler has pleaded guilty to lesser charges and could be released from prison on parole in 12 years. They do not like the deal.
“Normal causes of death are bad enough, but when somebody is body is disposed of like trash, it is even worse,” says Tommy.
Matt Wilber, the Pottawattamie County Attorney, told me that he will speak to the press after the sentencing. The Thompsons have stated that they will continue to fight for justice for Brianne.
The plea and sentencing hearing are scheduled for next Wednesday.