Home / Crime and Justice / Child's Death Conviction Upheld by Appeals Court
Child's Death Conviction Upheld by Appeals Court
30 May
Summary
- Roger Gillespie's murder conviction for toddler's death affirmed.
- Appeals court rejected claims of insufficient evidence.
- Gillespie received life sentence without parole for homicide.
The Iowa Court of Appeals has affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of Roger Gillespie in connection with the January 2024 death of 2-year-old Journey Marberry. The conviction, initially handed down by an Appanoose County District Court jury, resulted in a sentence of life in prison without parole.
Journey Marberry died on January 27, 2024, after Gillespie reported finding her unresponsive at his Centerville home where he was babysitting. Medical examination revealed blunt force injuries, brain bleeding, and a skull fracture, determined by medical witnesses to be inconsistent with a fall and indicative of significant force.
Gillespie provided inconsistent accounts of the incident to law enforcement. His trial testimony stated he tripped while carrying Marberry downstairs, causing him to fall on her. The appeals court panel found that the medical testimony, combined with Gillespie's changing statements, provided ample evidence for the jury's decision.
