Marion Hy-Vee stabbing suspect’s apartment searched, evidence seized

CEDAR RAPIDS - Police investigating this week's fatal stabbing in a Marion grocery store parking lot say they have collected evidence in a search of the suspect's apartment.

Marion police continue to investigate the killing of Lynnsey Donald. 29, after she came out of the Marion Hy-Vee on Tuesday afternoon. The young mother and bank employee was stabbed by her former boyfriend, Nicholas Luerkens, 32. who then tried to kill himself, police, witnesses, and relatives say.

Luerkens, who has not been charged, remained hospitalized Thursday with self-inflicted stab wounds.

Marion police Chief Harry Daugherty said Thursday that detectives carried out a search warrant at an apartment where Luerkens lived in Cedar Rapids.

'That turned up some evidence, but I'm not really at liberty to talk about the evidence it did turn up,” he said.

Asked whether Luerkens left a note or indication that he planned to kill Donald and himself, the chief declined to say.

'That's part of our ongoing investigation,” Daugherty said. 'We still haven't gotten through all of the evidence yet.”

Police are hopeful, the chief said, that Luerkens will be released from the hospital Friday or Saturday and then taken into custody. He said he is confident his investigators have collected enough evidence to proceed with charges once Luerkens is discharged.

The suspect has had an officer with him in the hospital at all times, the chief said.

A fundraising website established by a relative to cover funeral expenses for Donald said her 7-year-old son witnessed the attack. The page on gofundme.com had raised nearly $18,000 from almost 600 people by Thursday evening.

An email sent Thursday to parishioners of the Marion First United Methodist Church said Donald had begun to attend the church and was there last Sunday.

'We know that the entire event that played out Tuesday afternoon was the product of a broken mind and has many collateral effects.” the Rev. Mike Morgan wrote. 'We pray God's strong hand on all involved.”

Police say Donald had once lived with Luerkens, but had moved out months ago. Her family describes Luerkens as her former boyfriend.

Donald was born in Iowa City and moved with her family to Arizona before returning to Iowa. She attended an Iowa City cosmetology college and worked at Cost Cutters. Most recently, she worked as a teller coordinator at U.S. Bank in Cedar Rapids.

'Lynnsey will be remembered as a beautiful young woman who loved her family deeply, cared for everyone compassionately, regardless of the circumstances in which they met, and who always wore a smile; a smile that lit up the room as brightly as the sun,” reads her obituary. 'Lynnsey shared her love of life and beautiful soul with all those she encountered in her journey through life, most often greeting them with a warm, sincere hug.”

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Marion First United Methodist Church.