Bertha Man Charged in 31-Year-Old Iowa Murder Case
BERTHA, MN (trfnews.i234.me) – A 59-year-old Minnesota man faces a first-degree murder charge in a 1995 Iowa cold case.
Kelly Grant, of Bertha, Minnesota, is accused of killing Angela Renee Buck, 37, of Waterloo, Iowa.
Authorities arrested Grant on October 16, 2026, following an investigation spanning more than three decades.
According to court records, investigators believe Grant killed Buck over claims involving stolen property and illegal drug activity.
Woman Found Shot Near Waterloo in 1995
The case began on August 11, 1995, when turtle hunters found Buck’s body near a creek.
Her body was discovered approximately five miles east of Waterloo in rural Black Hawk County.
Deputies found Buck along a creek bank near a bridge.
An autopsy by the Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Buck died from a gunshot wound.
Her death was ruled a homicide.
A witness reportedly saw a man resembling Grant and another man force Buck into a vehicle.
The witness said the men took Buck from her Waterloo home before driving away.
Her body was discovered hours later.
Investigators Reveal Possible Motive
According to the criminal complaint, Grant allegedly believed Buck had stolen from him.
Investigators also allege Grant mistakenly believed Buck was providing police with information about illegal drug activity.
Authorities examined these claims while reviewing evidence and witness accounts from the original investigation.
Grant was interviewed several times during the years following Buck’s death.
During a March 2025 interview, Grant told investigators he had given Buck and several men a ride.
Grant claimed Buck appeared distressed when he encountered the group.
He said he drove them to another location in Waterloo and dropped them off.
Grant also claimed one man gave him a bag of marijuana as payment.
He denied involvement in Buck’s death.
Arrest Follows Decades of Investigation
Investigators continued working the case for more than 30 years while reviewing leads and gathering information.
The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation with help from state agencies.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation also worked on the case.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office Cold Case Unit later assisted investigators.
Authorities arrested Grant in Minnesota with help from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Todd County Sheriff’s Office.
He now faces a felony first-degree murder charge in connection with Buck’s death.
The Iowa Attorney General’s Office confirmed the arrest in an October 16 news release.
Investigation Remains Open
Authorities say the investigation remains active despite the arrest.
Officials have not released additional details about possible new evidence or upcoming court proceedings.
The charge marks a major development in a homicide investigation that began more than three decades ago.
Grant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
I’m Adrian Cole reporting for TRF News.
Copyright 2026 TRF News. All rights reserved.
