Essex, Shen couple kill 2 men in Council Bluffs

An Essex man and a Shenandoah woman shot and killed two men in separate incidents before their pickup truck crashed and a Council Bluffs police officer fatally shot the man, Iowa State Patrol authorities said Thursday, Aug. 8.

Officials with the ISP, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office and Council Bluffs Police detailed events that occurred over several days that investigators ultimately determined were connected.

Troy E. Petersen, 28, of Essex, was fatally shot Wednesday, Aug. 7, as he held a gun on his alleged accomplice, April M. Montello-Roberts, 44, of Shenandoah. She has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and one count each of robbery and burglary. If convicted, she faces life in prison.

Peterson and Montello-Roberts were friends and may have been boyfriend and girlfriend, officials said.

After her arrest, Montello-Roberts gave authorities an account of what happened, beginning with a fatal robbery of an acquaintance over the weekend of Aug. 2-3.

Montello-Roberts said the two began planning to rob 52-year-old Jerrot H. Clark on Aug. 2, and talked about killing him. Police found him dead in his 2103 Sixth Avenue home in Council Bluffs, late Sunday afternoon, Aug. 4. He died from a single gunshot to his head, said Council Bluffs Police Chief Tim Carmody.

Carmody continued saying Montello-Roberts and Petersen knew Clark, stating authorities found one of Clark’s credit cards in the truck the couple crashed.

The pursuit that led to the crash started around 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, when Deputy Ryan Olderog observed a green 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup stopped in the area of County Road L34 and Juniper Road with its headlights off.

A Pottawattamie County deputy attempted to stop the Dodge for minor traffic violation and suspicious activity. An occupant of the vehicle fired shots from the Ram at the deputy as it fled from him. The deputy lost sight of the Ram as it fled south on Juniper Road.

At approximately 2:39 a.m., Council Bluffs officers were in the area of Kanesville Boulevard and Railroad Avenue to assist Pottawattamie County deputies in locating the suspects and vehicle mentioned above. Two officers observed the Dodge Ram and attempted to stop it. The driver of the Dodge, Montello-Roberts, fled from both officers onto Indian Hills Road, while the passenger, Petersen, again began firing shots at the officers. The truck crashed in the 1400 block of Indian Hills Road with both occupants still inside.

Officers worked to communicate with Petersen, who was holding a long black rifle, but he refused to surrender or release Montello-Roberts. At approximately 2:41, two minutes after the vehicle came to rest, Petersen indicated that he was holding Montello-Roberts hostage. Officer’s at the scene continued to negotiate with Petersen for nearly two hours.

During the negotiations with Petersen, officers were able to convince him to throw one gun out of the truck. At approximately 4:26 a.m., Petersen began pointing a firearm at Montello-Roberts’ head and became more agitated, stated the report.

In an effort to save Montello-Roberts’s life a Council Bluffs police officer fired one shot through the windshield of the Dodge Ram. The shot incapacitated Petersen, allowing officers to move in and rescue Montello-Roberts. After removing her from the vehicle, Montello-Roberts was transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Once Montello-Petersen was safely removed, Petersen was examined by medics – they confirmed that he was dead.

Around 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 7, Pottawattamie County deputies and Council Bluffs Police officers were dispatched to 270 Yellow Pole Road to investigate a suspicious death. Upon entering and securing the scene law enforcement discovered the resident, Steven P. Carlson, 51, deceased inside his house. Further investigation revealed Carlson died from a gunshot.

Officials state law enforcement wasn’t initially aware Petersen and Montello-Roberts were connected to Clark or Carlson’s death. It was through the stand off and interviews law enforcement were able to connect the cases.

Law enforcement also determined during the short time deputies and officers lost sight of Petersen and Montello-Roberts, they killed Carlson and forced entry into his residence. Officers observed Petersen and Montello-Roberts shortly after they fled Carlson’s home. Again, the duo shot at officers; striking the officer’s marked cruiser while attempting to get away.

The officer who fired the fatal shot at Petersen is a nine year veteran of the department and has been serving on its EST Team for more than five years.

Detectives and Crime Scene Investigators recovered evidence, including multiple loaded firearms, connected to the Clark and Carlson homicides and the attempted murders of the two law enforcement officers.

This investigation is still on-going. Montello-Roberts is in the Pottawattamie County Jail, charged with two counts of felony murder, two counts attempted murder, one count of first degree robbery, and one count first degree burglary.