Life in prison without the possibility of parole—plus five years.  That sentence handed down Monday (12/13) in Poweshiek County to 32-year-old Stephen Vogel of Grinnell for first degree murder and abuse of a corpse.  Last month, Vogel was found guilty for the September 2020 death of Michael Williams of Grinnell.  Williams’ body was found burning in a ditch in Jasper County.  Several members of Williams’ family read victim impact statements prior to Vogel’s sentencing.  Michael Williams’ father, James Byrd-Williams, told Vogel that “life in prison isn’t good enough for you.”

“Death would have been better for him instead of life.  Because he’s still living; my son’s dead.”

When Judge Shawn Showers sentenced Vogel, he said sentences of life without the chance of parole “are made for people like you.  You treated Michael Williams like he was not human.  Mr. Williams did not deserve that.”  Vogel was sentenced to an additional five years on the count of abuse of a corpse, besides the life sentence.