Court Upholds Eldora Murder Conviction

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Oct 8, 2009 at 1:50 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 8, 2009 at 1:50 PM CST

DES MOINES (AP) - The Iowa Court of Appeals has upheld the verdict against a former Eldora man convicted in June 2008 of killing his estranged wife.

Jess Espinoza Cuevas was found guilty of first-degree murder by a Story County jury in the death of Brenda Cuevas in October 2005. His trial was moved from Hardin County because of publicity about the case.

Prosecutors argued Cuevas killed his wife and then set her Eldora home on fire. Authorities arrested Cuevas in August 2006 at his home in Des Moines. Court records indicate the couple were in the midst of a divorce and custody battle when she was killed.

In their appeal, Cuevas' attorneys said there was evidence pointing to other suspects. The justices disagreed, ruling the jury considered evidence about other suspects and concluded Cuevas was guilty of murder.

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