A pair of Iolans — one of whom was originally charged with killing Iolan Shawn Cook — were arrested late Friday night for attempted murder and other charges, while another subject remains at large.
The arrests stem from an attack that occurred at about 11:18 p.m. Friday in the 300 block of South Briarwood, Iola Police Chief Jared Warner said.
Alexander Williams, 34, was found in a residence there with lacerations and other injuries.
Williams told officers three individuals forced their way into the home, attacked him and stole his bag of methamphetamine, a semi-automatic pistol and cell phone.
After further investigation, Jessica Epting, 33, and Noe Fuentez, 19, were taken into custody and face allegations of attempted second-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated burglary.
Officers were still obtaining information about the third attacker, Warner said. They were unable to get much of a description, but hope to soon.
Williams was taken via ambulance to Allen County Regional Hospital where he was treated and released.
Epting — who was charged along with four others with first-degree murder in Cook’s March 2016 killing — saw that charge dismissed by pleading guilty in January to interfering with law enforcement and obstruction of justice. She testified in June for the prosecution in a joint preliminary hearing for three of her original co-defendants, Joshua Knapp, Rhonda Jackson and James Myers. The fifth defendant, Amber Boeken, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in February and also testified against the other three.
Trials for Knapp, Jackson and Myers are expected to begin this fall.
EPTING ALSO faces charges from a search warrant conducted early Saturday morning in the 400 block of South First Street. She, along with Jennifer Epting-Williams and Dewayne Rogers, all of Iola, were arrested for suspicion of possessing methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, officers said. A short while later, Timothy Toumberlin III, 21, Moran, was arrested for allegedly possessing opiates and drug paraphernalia.
