The trial for a Keokuk man accusing of killing his father, who died following an alleged assault during a family dinner earlier this year, is set to begin today.
Craig Rockenbach, 43, is charged with second-degree murder (class B felony).
At around 7:23 p.m. on Jan. 22, police were called to a home on the 400 block of Burke St. for a report of a disturbance in progress.
When officers arrived, they found 84-year-old Gary Rockenbach laying on the kitchen floor with bloody cuts on his hand, leg, and face, according to a criminal complaint.
Investigators learned that Craig had become upset with his parents over dinner and began to attack Gary, throwing a chair and him before punching him in the face and throwing him to the ground, the complaint states.
According to a press release from the Keokuk Police Department, the assault took place because of a disagreement over food.
Rockenbach was arrested and initially charged with assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor charge.
But after the Keokuk Police Department and Lee County Attorney’s Office received more information about Rockenbach’s injuries, the charge was amended to willful injury causing serious injury, a class C felony.
On Feb. 1, Gary Rockenbach died at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City.
On Feb. 7, Rockenbach pleaded not guilty to the willful injury charge.
On Feb. 19, District Eight Judge Clinton Boddicker approved a motion by prosecutors to amend the charge against Rockenbach to second-degree murder.
Under Iowa law, a person convicted of a Class B felony can be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
The trial is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. at the South Lee County Courthouse in Keokuk.
Rockenbach is being represented by Keokuk defense attorney Curtis Dial.
