An Indianola man who was arrested in 2023 was sentenced to up to 45 years in prison earlier this week, after pleading guilty to third-degree kidnapping, assault while participating in a felony with a dangerous weapon enhancement, domestic abuse impeding air/blood flow causing injury, and entered an Alford plea for attempted murder of his former girlfriend.

Jordan Mangum of Indianola and co-defendant Jessica Ann Marie Wheeler were arrested after evidence showed the defendants entered the home of Luna Cox on the southeast side of Des Moines, bound her hands with duct tape, and forced her into a minivan, and took her to Mr. Mangum home in Indianola, where he tied her up. Ms. Cox was taken to an unknown location, strangled, ran over several times with the van, and her throat was slashed.

Mangum must serve at least at least 22 1⁄2 years before he is eligible for parole under a plea agreement, while Wheeler was sentenced to up to 35 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 17 1⁄2 years.