Arterburn “Just Trying to Make My Mom Suffer”
Bradley Arterburn listens in to testimony on Thursday. Arterburn is accused of First Degree Murder of Robert “Hank” Horovitz (photo by Ken Allsup/Oskaloosa News)
Written by Amy Langdon
The prosecution’s case against Brad Arterburn continued Thursday, starting with the testimony of Ervin Edle, brother of Linda Arterburn and uncle of the defendant.
We had previously heard from Linda that when Hank told Brad that he was engaged to Linda, Brad was upset. Brad told Linda that theirs was a family home, and she didn’t have the right to invite another person to live there. Edle confirmed in his testimony that Linda did call inquiring about the house. He said he told Linda that the house was fully owned by her and she had the right to do with it as she pleased.
The jury also heard from two criminologists, one who was at the crime scene and another who evaluated the DNA from the crime scene. Forensic Scientist Justin Grodnitzky’s testimony, along with pictures presented by the prosecutor, showed the jury the condition of the Arterburn home shortly after the murder. Blood at the scene and DNA found on a knife also at the scene, along with the previous testimony of Linda Arterburn, all point to Brad stabbing himself in the chest after the alleged stabbing of Robert Horovitz.
Later on the stand was Brianna Porter, sister of the defendant. She was with Brad the night before the crime. Brianna said her brother expressed concern about their mother’s relationship with Hank and was worried about Hank taking advantage of Linda financially and emotionally. The last witness of the day was Adam Decamp from Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigations. He interviewed Brad while he was admitted at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines for his stab wounds on the night of the murder.
The jury listened to an hour and a half-long recorded interview between Adam Decamp and Brad on that night. When Brad was asked why he assaulted Hank, he said he was “just trying to make my mom suffer.” Brad describes experiencing “just a black type feeling” during the incident. At first he says he doesn’t remember what happened, but later gives details about stabbing Hank multiple times before putting the knife in his own chest.
When describing his motivation for turning the knife on himself, Brad said “I was just hoping I’d die and be free”, “I don’t want to suffer anymore” and “I was hoping [Linda] would have to lose both of us.”
