A body discovered at Amana Lily Lake over the weekend has been identified as that of 20-year-old Melody M. Hoffman of Marion. Hoffman’s body was found on Sunday morning and reported to the Iowa County Sheriff’s Office.

While an investigation into Hoffman’s death is ongoing, charges have been filed against 23-year-old McKinley Louisma of Hiawatha who was in an intimate relationship with Hoffman. According to an affidavit, it was determined that Hoffman was picked up by Louisma at approximately 11 p.m. on Saturday, February 17. Information from Hoffman’s Apple Watch shows that she was at Morgan Creek Park in Linn County when her heartbeat intensified before it either stopped or the device deactivated.

Louisma’s vehicle was later located, and after a search warrant, investigators found Hoffman’s phone case, a white Apple Watch band with blood on it, a bungee cord, a towing rope, gloves, and clothes in a bag matching the ones Hoffman was wearing. Louisma reportedly admitted to a DCI agent that he and another individual bound Hoffman with duct tape at Morgan Creek Park, placed her in the trunk, and then drove to the location where the body was found. The other individual was not named in the affidavit. A final report from the medical examiner is pending, but the preliminary opinion on Hoffman’s cause of death was by strangulation. She also had numerous stab and slash wounds on her body, also stated in the affidavit.

At this time, Louisma has been charged with 1st degree kidnapping, a class A felony, and conspiracy to commit forcible felony, a class C felony. He remains in police custody. KCII will have more information as it becomes official.