The Marion County Attorney’s Office will not file charges related to the crash at the Pella Walmart that killed three and injured two others this past December.
Marion County Attorney Ed Bull tells KNIA/KRLS News the decision was made based on reports completed by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Iowa State Patrol.
“After carefully reviewing all the reports that have been provided to my office, I’ve reached the determination that criminal charges in this matter are inappropriate,” Bull says.
Bull says there was no reason to believe Dennis Mockenhaupt intended to drive into the store, and that he was not under the influence of alcohol or any legal or illegal drugs when the truck slammed through the front doors of the Pella Walmart at approximately 48 MPH. Mockenhaupt’s truck originally entered the Walmart parking lot off of Washington Street and appeared to be traveling at a slow rate of speed. Shortly thereafter, the vehicle abruptly accelerated toward the entrance.
After speaking with witnesses, investigators also concluded that there was no evidence Mockenhaupt was in an agitated state at the time. Police say he had picked up a check from an accountant in Knoxville that was to be donated to a local charity, and had stopped and purchased a cup of coffee at a Casey’s in Knoxville before driving to Pella to go Christmas shopping for his family.
“All evidence appears and points to the fact that there was an unexplained medical condition that resulted in the driver’s unintended acceleration,” Bull adds. “Under Iowa law, there simply was not a crime that was committed. This was a horrific, terrible accident, and unfortunately, three individuals lost their life.”
On December 1st, 2016, a silver Ford pickup driven by Mockenhaupt accelerated through the front of the store at 9:53 a.m. Carrie Zugg, 31, of Leighton; Lindsey Rietveld, 29, of Bussey; and Ruth Jean DeJong, 76, of Pella were all killed in the accident. The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office conducted autopsies of the three victims and determined all three died from trauma as a result of the collision with the truck.
Bull is thankful for the first responders, law enforcement, investigators, and victim advocates who responded and assisted after the tragedy.
“This was truly an all hands on deck event, to not only determine what happened, but also provide the appropriate support to everyone that was involved, including the driver of the vehicle,” Bull says.
“There is no question that our community is a special one to live in, and the way in which our community responded to this horrific tragedy was awe-inspiring.”
The Iowa State Patrol, Iowa DCI, Pella Police Department, and Marion County Sheriff’s Office all assisted with the investigation. Pella Fire, Pella Ambulance, Knoxville Fire and Rescue, and Marion County Emergency Management joined those agencies to help with rescue and clean up as well.