After nearly four decades of unanswered questions, justice has finally been served in the case of Barbara Lenz, a woman from Woodbine, Iowa, whose disappearance in 1989 left a lasting impact on her family and community.
Barbara began a relationship with Robert Davis in the summer of 1987. Over the next two years, that relationship became increasingly violent. Investigators later learned that Barbara and her young daughter were subjected to ongoing abuse.
On May 6, 1989, Barbara was at Davis’s rural Harrison County home when a violent altercation broke out. During the incident, Davis slashed Barbara’s face with a boot spur, leaving a serious injury. Although a friend witnessed the attack, that person did not come forward until more than a year later.
Just days later, on May 17, Barbara was reported missing.
Local authorities, including the Woodbine Police Department, began searching for answers before requesting help from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Special Agent Don Shreffler took on the case, conducting dozens of interviews and pursuing every possible lead. Despite those efforts, the investigation stalled. With no body, limited physical evidence, and few witnesses, the case eventually went cold.
For years, Barbara’s disappearance remained a mystery.
That changed in 2020, when Special Agent Jared Kastner reopened the case following a new tip. A woman who had recently ended a relationship with Davis told investigators he made a chilling statement during an argument, warning her she could “end up like Barb.”
This new lead reignited the investigation. Kastner uncovered additional witnesses who described Barbara’s fear of Davis in the days before she vanished. A neighbor also came forward with information supporting claims of prior violence, including an incident involving strangulation.
With this renewed evidence, the case was presented to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, which determined there was enough to move forward with a murder charge.
Robert Davis was arrested on March 10, 2025, during a traffic stop. According to investigators, he made a telling remark at the time, asking officers, “I mean, you got a body or something or what?”
Earlier this month, a Pottawattamie County jury found Davis guilty of second-degree murder in connection with Barbara’s death. The jury reached its decision after four hours of deliberation.
Davis is scheduled to be sentenced on May 22, 2026.
The case, which spanned nearly 37 years, stands as a testament to persistence and dedication. Investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation—past and present—never gave up, holding onto the belief that one day, Barbara Lenz would receive the justice she deserved.
We would like to thank an Ottumwa Radio listener for providing tips and photos related to this incident.
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