Brandon Kasemeier, a 39-year-old resident of Waukon, has been charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, 38-year-old Jami Kasemeier.
By Denise Lana,
Brandon Kasemeier, a 39-year-old resident of Waukon, has been charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, 38-year-old Jami Kasemeier.
Brandon Kasemeier, a 39-year-old resident of Waukon, has been charged with the first-degree murder of his wife, 38-year-old Jami Kasemeier.
According to the Jan. 22 Allamakee County Court complaint filed by Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner, “On or about January 21, Brandon did commit murder in the 1st degree by willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation, kill Jami Kasemeier.”
As explained in the affidavit on file at the Allamakee County Courthouse, a relative of Jami’s contacted the Waukon Police Department (WPD) after not being able to get a hold of her and requested the WPD perform a welfare check on Jami. The affidavit said the family member said that during a recent phone conversation with Jami, there seemed to be a dispute between Jami and Brandon. Brandon took the phone away from Jami while the family member was on the other end of the call, the affidavit said, and the call was disconnected. Later, according to the affidavit, Brandon used Jami’s phone to call the family member, but Brandon would not allow the family member to talk to Jami. Courthouse information said the family member stated Brandon sounded “off”. The last time Jami was heard from by the family member was during the disconnected call, and WPD also attempted to reach Jami but were unable to make contact with her, the affidavit said.
Neither Brandon nor Jami showed up for work Monday, Jan. 22, court documents said, and WPD was granted a warrant to search Brandon’s house at 103 1st Street, Waukon.
The affidavit said that upon entering the home, police found Jami inside, deceased, with extensive injuries to her face. An empty handgun case and .22-caliber casings were also located, court documents said.
Due to physical evidence found at the scene, an Iowa warrant and nationwide pickup were issued for Brandon’s arrest. Brandon, who had fled the state sometime between Sunday and Monday, was arrested in Loveland, Colo., at 12:54 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 23. According to an online report from KCRG News, Colorado police found a .22 revolver in the vehicle Brandon was driving when he was arrested.
KCRG reported that Brandon and Jami were married in 2013, and several years into their marriage, Jami admitted to police that Brandon was threatening her and her family members, and a no-contact order was issued. Brandon called Jami around 90 times during the no-contact order, and Brandon avoided jail time by pleading guilty to third-degree harassment. Three years later, Jami contacted authorities again after Brandon attacked her and choked her. The KCRG report said Brandon told Jami, “If law enforcement got involved, she would be leaving in a body bag.”
Brandon is currently being held without bail at the Larimer County Jail in Fort Collins, Colo., and is scheduled to appear in court Friday, Feb. 2, at 8:30 a.m.
The Allamakee County Attorney, Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Larimer County Sheriff’s Office, Colo., have assisted the Waukon Police Department in the investigation.
A GoFundMe page was established to raise money to cover funeral costs and assist Jami and Brandon’s three young adult children. To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/f/jami-kasemeier. Additionally, all Freedom Bank locations are also accepting donations for Jami’s family.
Information on this case will be reported on in future editions of the Driftless Journal. If you or a loved one are experiencing domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233. If your health or wellbeing are being threatened in this moment, please call 911.
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