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The recent arrest of Robert Davis, the former boyfriend of a woman who disappeared nearly 36 years ago, has reignited interest in the cold case and brought hopes for justice to her family. Authorities announced that Davis, 61, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, has been charged with first-degree murder in the disappearance of Barbara Lenz, who was last seen on May 6, 1989, according to a statement from the Iowa Department of Justice.
At the time of her disappearance, Lenz, then 31 years old, was reportedly dropped off by Davis at her Woodbine apartment. She was expected to visit her ex-boyfriend and the father of her 3-year-old daughter in Omaha, Nebraska, but failed to arrive there, which sparked concern among her family. They reported her missing on May 17, 1989, prompting police to examine her apartment, where they discovered that her pets had been neglected and her belongings, including her purse and wallet, remained untouched. There were no signs of a struggle at the scene.
Investigators quickly established that Davis was the last person to have seen Lenz alive. He informed authorities that she had contacted him from Omaha, claiming she was with her daughter, but he was unaware that she never made it to that location. Throughout the investigation, it emerged that Lenz had expressed fears about Davis, having confided in acquaintances that he threatened her life if she ever attempted to leave him. Allegations of physical assaults by Davis against Lenz surfaced as well, including instances where she was reportedly strangled until losing consciousness.
According to criminal complaints, Davis’s violent history with Lenz included an incident where he was said to have struck her child in a public setting, confirmations of which he later admitted to law enforcement. Davis allegedly displayed a pattern of control and jealousy, disapproving of Lenz’s visits to see her daughter and her former partner. Witness accounts indicated that tensions escalated before Lenz’s disappearance, with reports of arguments and physical altercations during this period. One witness recounted an incident in which Davis inflicted an injury on Lenz’s face with a sharp object.
Furthermore, a witness divulged that Davis’s brother had demonstrated a location in a remote area where he claimed they buried something wrapped in plastic. The investigation did not clarify whether this site was excavated or what was buried there. Additional testimonies indicated that Davis had made ominous remarks about Lenz, suggesting that arguments could lead to a fate similar to hers—a chilling implication that left investigators deeply concerned.
Despite ongoing investigations and numerous leads over the decades, Lenz’s body has never been recovered. Earlier this year, in July 2024, the Iowa Attorney General’s office initiated an Iowa Cold Case Unit aimed at tackling unsolved cases. This newly formed team revisited Lenz’s case to analyze evidence and interview potential witnesses, which ultimately brought renewed focus onto Davis.
The criminal complaint alleges that Davis, given his past behavior and the nature of his relationship with Lenz, is believed to have murdered her “with malice aforethought, willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation.” He is currently being held without bond at the Harrison County Jail, and no attorney has been assigned to him yet.
Impact of the Case on Lenz’s Family
The case will be prosecuted in Harrison County, and the recent developments have greatly impacted Lenz’s family, particularly her daughter, Lindsy Baumgart. In an interview with KCCI, she described the news of Davis’s arrest as “surreal” and expressed immense gratitude for the renewed investigation into her mother’s case. “I never thought this day would come,” she remarked. “It’s honestly something that I have waited for my whole life.” Baumgart holds out hope for the discovery of her mother’s remains, affirming that for her, achieving justice means bringing Lenz home.
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