Witness: Homicide suspect didn't notice motorists

Associated Press - November 17, 2009 3:54 PM ET

DAKOTA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A witness in the first-degree murder trial of Kyle Deemer has testified that he was so focused on the alleged killings that he paid little attention to passing motorists.

The 29-year-old Deemer is charged with killing his 24-year-old wife, Jessica Deemer, and her 24-year-old friend, Bryce Mercer. They were shot to death near Marshalltown in October 2008.

Kevin Zimple of Traer testified Tuesday that he stopped his minivan after seeing a vehicle veer off Iowa Highway 14, followed by a pickup that pulled in front of the car. He says Jessica Deemer screamed that her husband had shot Mercer.

Zimple then heard a man behind her say she was next.

The trial was moved from Marshall County to Humboldt County because of pretrial publicity.

Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com