SOLVED: Attorney General announces conviction in Harrison County Cold Case Murder
Davis found Guilty, Justice Prevails 37-Years Later
March 31, 2026 will be a day the Woodbine community and Lenz family was able to exhale, as their long-lost community daughter had justice delivered after 37-years of unanswered questions.
Robert Davis, 62, was found guilty of second-degree murder in connection to the death of of Barbara Lenz in 1989. Relief, hugs and tears were shared throughout the Pottawattamie County Court room in Council Bluffs on March 31.
“I just held out that one day someone might speak up or I might be able to figure it out myself,” stated Lindsy Baumgart, Barbara’s daughter. “But I was never successful. It just took an incredible team behind up to get us here today.”
Barbara Lenz was last seen on May 6, 1989. Her boyfriend at the time, Robert Davis, reported dropping her off at her Woodbine apartment earlier that day.
Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced that Robert Davis, Council Bluffs, was convicted of second-degree murder for the killing of Barbara Lenz, Woodbine. Lenz disappeared from Harrison County in 1989. Davis was arrested on March 10, 2025, and was the first arrest made in a case that the Iowa Cold Case Unit helped investigate.
Prosecutors believe Davis killed Lenz on May 6, 1989. A criminal complaint said Davis had assaulted Lenz several times during their two-year relationship, including multiple incidents where he strangled her. The documents show Davis admitted in 1989 to assaulting Lenz and having a violent temper and, days before her disappearance, Lenz told others she was scared of him and feared he would "kill her if she ever left."
Lenz's body was never found.
Lenz’s family reported her disappearance to the Woodbine Police Department on May 17, 1989. Over the years, investigations pursued numerous leads and searches, but Barbara was never found. Working with partners at the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation the Iowa Cold Case Unit brought additional resources to dig through information, meet with witnesses, and loosen up leads in Barbara’s case.
37-years later, Davis’s trial began on March 31, 2026 at the Pottawattamie County Courthouse in Council Bluffs. The jury returned the verdict in less than four hours. The case was prosecuted by the Iowa Attorney General’s Cold Case prosecutor Scott Brown and Harrison County Attorney Sarah Delanty.
Family, friends and neighbors of Lenz waited at the courthouse all day for the verdict.
“Just so thankful that the court system came and just got a guilty verdict on this man and brought peace to the families, to the Lenz family and us and all the friends who prayed for Barbara for 37 years,” said John Crews, the father of Barbara Lenz's child. “My heart is absolutely full of joy right now going through all these trial and tribulations, and I look forward to dancing with Barb one more time in heaven.”
Although Lenz's loved ones won't get her back, they said this brings a sort of closure to the decades-long longing for answers.
There was not a dry eye in the courtroom when the verdict was read, as an immense weight finally lifted.
“The team did a great job getting it to this point.” said Jim Lenz, Barbara’s brother. “We have been waiting a long time for this.”
“Lots of years of worrying and everything. And worrying about Lindsey and now she has some justice.” said Mary Meseck, Barbara’s sister. “She was a ray of sunshine. Always helping anybody that needed it. Very kind, just very loving mom.”
“No one should get away with murder, as the Barbara Lenz’s family has waited nearly 37 years for justice,” said Attorney General Bird. “Today, after long last, they have it. Robert Davis will spend the rest of his life in prison. I am deeply grateful to Cold Case Prosecutor Scott Brown and Harrison County Attorney Sarah Delanty and her office for their hard work in securing this conviction. Thankful for the investigators in our Iowa Cold Case Unit, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, the Harrison County Sheriff’s Office, and the Woodbine Police Department who worked hard and never gave up on Barbara’s case.”
This was the first arrest made in a case that was assisted by the Iowa Cold Case Unit.
Davis is scheduled for sentencing on May 22, 2026, where he faces a maximum 50 years in prison.
