A North Iowa man, convicted of second-degree murder in the death of his wife last year, was given the mandatory sentence of 50 years in prison Tuesday (11.12).
57-year-old Roger Crews Junior of Woden was accused of murdering his estranged wife, Karen Crews, on October 27, 2023. Authorities found Karen Crews dead the following day after responding to a call for a welfare check at their home, which investigators say was a call made by Roger Crews. He was arrested later that night in Freeborn County Minnesota and charged with first-degree murder.
Last month, a Hancock County jury found Crews guilty of the lesser charge of second-degree murder. Tuesday, he was sentenced to 50 years in prison, with a minimum of 35 years served before consideration for parole. Roger Crews was also ordered to pay $150,000 restitution to the estate of Karen Crews.
A victim impact statement from Karen Crews’ sister, Hope Lageson, was read into the record by a victim services worker, “My sister Karen was more than just a family member to us—she was the heart of our family. As a loving mother to her four children and grandmother to two precious grandchildren, she gave everything she had to ensure her family was supported, loved, and cared for. We will never get back the years we should have had with her.”
Rogers Crews was given a chance to make a statement prior to sentencing but declined.
