Former Charles City Resident Found Guilty of Murder Seeks New Trial

A former Charles City resident, found guilty last month of murdering a Nashua man over 11-and-a-half years ago, is seeking a new trial. 

On May 23rd, a Chickasaw County jury deliberated about an hour to find 51-year-old Randy Patrie guilty of murder in the first degree in the death of 70-year-old Carl Gallmeyer of Nashua, on or about September 25, 2012. 

An investigation by the Chickasaw County Sheriff’s Office, Charles City Police and Iowa DCI led to a search of Patrie’s Charles City home in July 2013. Authorities say several items owned by Gallmeyer were found inside the residence, including the gun believed used to kill him.

However, before local officials could proceed, Patrie was sentenced in 2014 to life in federal prison on felony firearms charges and for being a career criminal. But in 2018, he was resentenced to 20 years in federal prison, enabling Chickasaw County to resume efforts to prosecute and convict him.

Patrie is scheduled to be sentenced on July 2nd. 

However, defense counsel filed a motion on June 13th seeking an arrest of judgment and/or new trial. They argue that the State did not prove that Patrie shot Gallmeyer, whether he acted with malice or forethought, or that he acted willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and with specific intent to kill, or that he was participating in burglary. 

The defense also claims that the jury’s verdict is contrary to the law and evidence and is not supported by sufficient evidence, nor the weight of the evidence. Thus, no legal judgment can be entered, and judgment should be arrested. 

The State filed a resistance motion Monday (06.17) arguing that the evidence of Defendant’s guilt is overwhelming, and the jury returned the correct verdict.