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Newman said he knew of wife's affair
[March 21, 2013]

Newman said he knew of wife's affair


Mar 21, 2013 (The Hawk Eye - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Chico Newman told police following his wife's death in August she admitted having an affair to him on the night she was found dead.

In search warrants returned this week in Des Moines County District Court, Burlington police investigators said Newman told them he argued with his wife, Crystal, after she allegedly admitted to an affair with another man.

Newman, 38, is accused of first-degree murder in the killing of his 32-year-old wife. However, Newman claims his wife committed suicide.

The latest development is another twist in a mystery, which began Aug. 9 when police found Crystal Newman dead in a bedroom of their residence from a single gunshot wound to the head. A .45-caliber handgun was found in her left hand.

Chico Newman claims he left the home with his two children to seek treatment at Great River Medical Center in West Burlington after being stabbed by his wife during the argument over her alleged affair. He asked emergency room personnel to notify police because he was concerned his wife might attempt suicide.



When Burlington police arrived at the home a few minutes later, they found the doors locked and the lights off.

Police officers forced their way inside, where they found Newman dead from a single gunshot wound. The death certificate states Newman died "instantaneously" from the gunshot.


Chico Newman, who had been working out of the area, returned home unexpectedly on the night of his wife's death.

"Chico Newman stated when he arrived at 800 S. 8th St. (on Aug. 9) his wife was on the front porch, smoking marijuana and typing on a laptop computer," according to the search warrant. "An argument ensued during which his wife made suicidal comments, showing him letters she had written, admitting to cheating on him.

"Newman indicated (to police) he had a photo on his cell phone of at least one of these letters. During this argument, (Crystal Newman) was in possession of a firearm and a knife, and she cut him with the knife." Newman, who remains in the Des Moines County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond, is set to be tried on the first-degree murder charges May 7. District Judge Mary Ann Brown is expected to preside at the two-week trial.

The unsealed search warrants indicate police recovered several weapons, including "a .45-caliber pistol ... with four live rounds and one spent round"; a steak knife; marijuana; blood-stained clothing; DNA samples; cell phones; and computers." The search warrants also indicate police recovered the contents of cell phone logs from three cell phones for July 31 through Aug. 9 of last year.

Police also sought the couple's credit records and life insurance polices. The search warrant returns did not indicate if police recovered items related to those requests.

Although Burlington investigators have remained relatively silent about the seven-month investigation, Curtis Dial, Newman's attorney, provided several details in documents filed with the court last week.

Included in a motion is the fact police found semen on a chair on the front porch of the Newman home from someone who is not the defendant. Dial said the person linked to the semen is named as a witness.

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