NATHANIEL BEVERS MCGIVNEY CONVITED OF MURDER AFTER STABBING A TEEN 22 TIMES AND HIDING BODY IN TRASH

On July 9, 2025, Nathaniel Bevers-McGivney, a 22-year-old from Farnhamville, Iowa, was convicted of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse in the brutal stabbing death of 17-year-old Michele “Luna” Jackson. The trial, held at the Calhoun County Courthouse in Rockwell City, revealed that Bevers-McGivney stabbed Jackson 22 times, including a fatal throat cut, at Farnhamville City Park on September 22, 2024, before hiding her body in a trash bin. The case, covered extensively by KCCI, Des Moines Register, and Court TV, shocked the small town of fewer than 400 residents and drew national attention due to its graphic nature and the emotional testimony of Jackson’s family. Bevers-McGivney, who waived a jury trial, now faces a mandatory life sentence without parole, with sentencing set for August 15, 2025.

The Crime: A Brutal Attack at Farnhamville City Park

The incident occurred on the evening of September 22, 2024, when Michele “Luna” Jackson, a junior at Southeast Valley High School, went to Farnhamville City Park on Niebel Street, a place she frequented to swing and listen to music through her earbuds. According to court documents reported by WHO13 and Court TV, Bevers-McGivney approached Jackson, armed with an interchangeable-blade knife commonly used for gutting animals, and attacked her without provocation. The autopsy, detailed by associate state medical examiner Dr. Jacob Smith, revealed 22 stab wounds to Jackson’s torso, head, and neck, including a severe cut across her throat that severed both jugular veins, her carotid artery, and her airway. Two wounds—to her neck and back—were deemed potentially fatal. The absence of defensive wounds suggested Jackson was caught off guard, unable to resist the assault.

After the attack, Bevers-McGivney attempted to conceal the crime by placing Jackson’s body in a rolling trash bin and pushing it to a nearby cornfield. A business employee discovered the bin the following morning, September 23, leading to the recovery of Jackson’s body. Court filings noted that Bevers-McGivney returned home to dispose of the broken knife, which was later found in his trash can, along with blood-stained towels and a bathtub containing Jackson’s blood.

Discovery and Arrest

Jackson’s mother, Annette, grew concerned when her daughter failed to return home by the town’s 10 p.m. curfew on September 22. Accompanied by her older daughter, Shawna Bachman, Annette searched the area and encountered Bevers-McGivney riding Jackson’s distinctive green scooter. When questioned, he gave conflicting explanations, claiming he “found” the scooter. Annette noticed a bloody shoe in the scooter’s basket, prompting a 911 call. A harrowing moment captured in court via 911 audio, reported by KCCI, revealed Annette and Shawna’s distress upon spotting the blood. When deputies arrived, they found Bevers-McGivney covered in blood, with fresh cuts on his hands. Shawna’s boyfriend held him at gunpoint until police detained him. DNA evidence later confirmed the blood on Bevers-McGivney’s clothing, the knife, and items in his apartment belonged to Jackson.

Initially charged with abuse of a corpse for failing to disclose the body’s location, Bevers-McGivney was hit with a first-degree murder charge on September 23, 2024, after the body was found. He was held in Carroll County Jail and pleaded not guilty, with his attorney filing a written arraignment on October 11, 2024.

The Trial: Overwhelming Evidence and a Bench Verdict

Bevers-McGivney’s bench trial, presided over by District Judge Derek Johnson, began on July 8, 2025, after he waived his right to a jury. Prosecutors, led by Assistant Iowa Attorney General Andrew Prosser, presented a compelling case, arguing that the attack’s brutality—26 stab wounds, including a throat cut and a broken knife blade lodged in Jackson’s back—demonstrated premeditation and malice aforethought. Aislinn Chambers, a DNA specialist, testified that blood samples from the park, Bevers-McGivney’s clothing, and his apartment overwhelmingly matched Jackson’s DNA, with some samples also containing Bevers-McGivney’s. Dr. Smith’s autopsy testimony, detailing the extent of Jackson’s injuries, left family members in tears, as reported by Freeman Journal.

The defense, led by attorney Charles Kenville, conceded that Bevers-McGivney killed Jackson but argued for second-degree murder, claiming the act was a “random spontaneous event” lacking premeditation. Kenville pointed to Bevers-McGivney’s failure to conceal evidence, such as walking the streets covered in blood, as evidence of a haphazard act. However, Judge Johnson rejected this, citing the deliberate nature of arming himself with a knife, approaching Jackson quietly, and continuing to stab her after the blade broke. In his written verdict, delivered just hours after closing arguments on July 9, Johnson emphasized the “overwhelming evidence,” including the lack of defensive wounds and Bevers-McGivney’s conflicting statements about the scooter.

Community Impact and Michele Jackson’s Legacy

Michele “Luna” Jackson was remembered as a “bright and caring” high school junior with dreams of studying meteorology at Iowa State University. Her obituary, cited by Des Moines Register, highlighted her love for music, anime, Minecraft, and the TV show Supernatural. The Southeast Valley Community School District canceled events on September 23, 2024, to mourn her loss, and a memorial grew at the park where she was killed. The small Farnhamville community, rocked by the tragedy, rallied around Jackson’s family, with WHO13 reporting private services held on September 26.

The trial’s emotional toll was evident as Jackson’s mother and sister testified, their grief captured in court footage shared by Court TV. Annette Jackson’s confrontation with Bevers-McGivney, detailed in KCCI, underscored a mother’s desperate search, while Shawna’s cellphone video of holding him at gunpoint became a pivotal moment in court. The verdict brought some closure, with family members sharing hugs outside the courtroom, but the loss remains profound.

Public and Media Reaction

The case drew significant attention due to its brutality and the small-town setting. Posts on X from @CourtTV on July 8–10, 2025, highlighted key moments, including Bevers-McGivney’s blood-covered appearance and the guilty verdict, with users expressing horror at the crime’s details. TrueCrimeNews and CBS2Iowa emphasized the community’s shock, with the latter noting Farnhamville’s population of under 400. Media outlets like Blue Water Healthy Living and Messenger News framed the trial as a reckoning for a heinous act, though no motive was established, leaving questions about why Bevers-McGivney targeted Jackson.

Broader Implications

The case underscores the devastating impact of violent crime in small communities and raises questions about premeditation in seemingly motiveless attacks. The prosecution’s success in securing a first-degree murder conviction, despite the defense’s push for a lesser charge, highlights the strength of forensic evidence like DNA and the importance of family intervention in prompting swift arrests. The use of a trash bin to hide Jackson’s body also points to a calculated attempt to evade justice, though Bevers-McGivney’s failure to conceal other evidence undermined his defense.

The conviction aligns with broader efforts to address violent crime in Iowa, as seen in the Calhoun County Attorney’s collaboration with the state AG’s office, correcting an erroneous conflict-of-interest filing. The case also highlights the role of community vigilance, as Jackson’s family’s quick actions led to Bevers-McGivney’s apprehension.