A decades-old disappearance in western Iowa has finally led to a conviction, bringing long-awaited answers to a family that spent nearly 37 years searching for justice.
Brenna Bird announced that Robert Davis of Council Bluffs has been found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Barbara Lenz, who vanished in 1989. The conviction marks a major milestone—it is the first case successfully closed by the state’s newly formed Cold Case Unit.
Lenz was last seen on May 6, 1989. At the time, Davis—her boyfriend—told authorities he had dropped her off at her apartment in Woodbine. When she didn’t resurface, her family reported her missing on May 17. Despite years of investigation, multiple leads, and repeated searches, she was never found.
The case remained unsolved for decades until renewed efforts by the Cold Case Unit and investigators helped uncover new information. Davis was arrested on March 10, 2025, becoming the first person taken into custody as a result of the unit’s work.
His trial began on March 24, 2026, at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse. After hearing the evidence, a jury deliberated for less than four hours before returning a guilty verdict on March 31.
In a statement, Bird emphasized the significance of the conviction, pointing to the persistence of investigators and prosecutors who refused to let the case go cold. She also acknowledged the long wait endured by Lenz’s family, calling the outcome a moment of justice after nearly four decades.
Davis now faces a mandatory prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for May 22, 2026.
Authorities continue to encourage anyone with information about unsolved cases to come forward, reminding Iowans that even the oldest cases can still be solved with time, effort, and new leads.
