Iowa Mother and Son Charged After Violent Home Invasion

I can’t imagine what it must’ve felt like to be that elderly man, alone at home in Ankeny, when two people—one of them his neighbor’s adult son—broke in and nearly killed him.

It happened on July 1st, just off NW Ashland Parkway. Police say the man was beaten and strangled inside his own house. He was rushed to the hospital with serious injuries, and thankfully, he survived. But surviving something like that doesn’t mean it’s over. The fear? That lingers.

What really shook me when I read the full police report is this: the suspects weren’t strangers. They were family—literally. A 27-year-old man named Gemiere Goodwin and his 45-year-old mother, Merrelita Kintz, are now both behind bars. Police say they planned the whole thing together. That changes how you look at home invasions, doesn’t it?

This wasn’t a random act of violence—it was premeditated, targeted, and brutal. If you’re thinking, “Why would a mother help her son do this?” you’re not alone. That’s what made this story explode across local news and social media. And that’s why it matters more than just another crime headline.

Inside the Attack – What Really Happened That Night

I want you to picture this clearly.

It’s a quiet night in Ankeny. You’re at home, probably winding down. And suddenly, someone forces their way in—beats you, strangles you, and leaves you for dead.

That’s exactly what happened on July 1st in the 2200 block of NW Ashland Parkway. Police responded to a call about a possible burglary, and what they found inside wasn’t just a break-in—it was a violent, targeted assault on an elderly man. According to KCCI, the victim was severely beaten, with injuries consistent with strangulation.

Think about that: someone walked into this man’s home and tried to take his life.

He was rushed to the hospital, treated, and thankfully released. But the trauma? That kind of fear doesn’t fade. You don’t sleep the same after something like that.

This wasn’t just about stealing something—it was about power, control, and intent to hurt. And when you see what was taken—his gun, wallet, phone, personal documents—it’s clear this wasn’t random. They came prepared.

Unfortunately, this isn’t the only case where someone was violently attacked inside their home. In McAllen, Texas, police are still looking for a 20-year-old suspect involved in a similarly disturbing armed home robbery.

How the Arrests Unfolded – A Timeline of Tension

Now here’s where the case gets even more disturbing.

Police quickly identified 27-year-old Gemiere Cortez Goodwin as a suspect. Just two days after the attack, on July 3, officers tracked him down at a vape shop in Des Moines. But this wasn’t a clean arrest. According to the official report from the Ankeny Police Department, Goodwin resisted—and two officers got injured trying to take him into custody.

He wasn’t just hiding. He was armed with the victim’s stolen firearm. And he had other stolen items on him too—proof that this wasn’t a misunderstanding or mistaken identity. It was the guy.

Then came the twist: police got a search warrant and uncovered more than they expected. Goodwin’s mother—Merrelita Rae Kintz, 45—had helped plan the whole thing.

Let that sink in. A mother and son working together to rob and nearly kill an elderly man. That’s not just criminal—it’s chilling.

Kintz was arrested quietly on July 22. But the damage was already done.

Sadly, stories like this aren’t rare. In Philadelphia, a man was critically wounded outside his own home in what police suspect was a targeted shooting.

The Charges They’re Facing – And What They Could Mean

When I looked into the actual charges, it hit me just how serious this case is.

Both Goodwin and Kintz are now facing a long list of felony charges. We’re talking Attempted Murder, First-Degree Burglary, Robbery, Willful Injury, and more. And these aren’t small-time offenses.

In Iowa, Attempted Murder is a Class B felony—that alone can carry up to 25 years in prison. Add in First-Degree Burglary, and the numbers start stacking up fast. If convicted on multiple charges, they could be looking at decades behind bars.

For you and me, it’s more than legal jargon. It’s about justice—about holding people accountable when they cross a line this violent. It also raises real questions: How does someone get to this point? What drives a mother to help her own son do something like this?

We may never fully understand. But what we do know is this: the system is taking this case seriously. And it should.

If this story leaves you asking the same questions I am—why it happened, how it could’ve been prevented—drop your thoughts in the comments. I’d genuinely like to know what you think.

How Police Put It All Together – The Investigation Unfolds

Credit where it’s due—Ankeny police moved fast on this one.

After that brutal night, they didn’t just wait for leads to fall into their lap. They got a warrant, they gathered evidence, and they followed it—hard. It was through that search warrant that detectives connected Kintz to the crime, showing that this wasn’t just a one-man job.

The Ankeny city alert confirms how thorough the investigation was. Detectives didn’t stop at the first arrest. They looked deeper. That’s how they uncovered the full story—a family conspiracy, not just a solo break-in.

Goodwin didn’t come quietly. Police had to physically restrain him. Two officers got hurt in the process, which tells you how far he was willing to go to avoid arrest. That’s not the behavior of someone caught off-guard—it’s someone who knew what he’d done.

And that level of resistance? It adds weight to every charge filed against him.

I’ve been following more cases like this through local crime updates on WhatsApp. It’s surprising how many similar incidents are happening in communities just like ours.

What This Means for the Community – And For You?

If you’re like me, this story probably rattled you a bit.

It’s not just about what happened to one man. It’s about the fact that it happened in a quiet Iowa neighborhood, the kind of place where people feel safe leaving their doors unlocked. That illusion shattered overnight.

This wasn’t a crime of desperation. It was planned. And that’s what makes it so scary.

You might be wondering—what can I actually do to protect myself or someone in my family, especially elderly parents or neighbors?

Start simple:

• Reinforce your locks and install motion-sensor lighting.
• Check in regularly on elderly relatives.
• Know your neighbors—really know them.
• If you don’t already have a security system, now might be the time.

Because the truth is, violence like this doesn’t come with warning signs. But how we prepare? That part is still in our control.

And if you live in Ankeny or nearby, maybe now’s the time to bring this up at your next HOA meeting, or even just around the dinner table. These are the stories that remind us why community awareness still matters.

We’ve seen how even children can become victims inside homes where danger isn’t secured. A recent case in Chicago showed just how tragic it can be when a child finds an unsecured firearm.

What Happens Next – The Road Through the Courts

Now that both suspects are in custody, the legal process begins—and if you’ve ever followed a case like this, you know things can move slowly from here.

Goodwin and Kintz are being held in Polk County Jail, and as of now, no bail has been set. Over the coming weeks, we’ll likely see court filings, pretrial hearings, and possibly requests for a psychiatric evaluation or plea deals. But make no mistake—the charges are serious, and prosecutors aren’t going to take this lightly.

If you’re following this case from Iowa or nearby, I’d suggest keeping an eye on court dockets. This won’t be over quickly. Attempted murder and first-degree burglary aren’t charges that disappear in a few court dates. Trials like these can stretch into months, sometimes longer.

And here’s something to think about: how will the system treat a mother and son who did this together? Will their defense strategies be aligned—or will they turn on each other?

I’ll be watching for updates. You should too.

This Wasn’t Just a Crime Story – It Was a Wake-Up Call

What makes this case hit differently isn’t just the violence—it’s the betrayal, the planning, the personal nature of it.

This wasn’t a random burglary by some desperate stranger. This was a mother and son walking into an elderly man’s home and nearly killing him. That’s why this story matters more than just another local crime update. It reminds you and me that danger doesn’t always look like we expect.

It can live next door. It can come from people you’ve spoken to, smiled at, maybe even trusted.

And if you’re someone who’s brushed off security conversations in the past, I hope this changes that. Not from fear, but from awareness. Because safety isn’t just about installing cameras or locking doors—it’s about staying informed, staying connected, and trusting your gut when something feels off.

We talk a lot about community, but this is what that really means: looking out for each other before it’s too late.

For more real stories like this—about crime, safety, and community awareness—visit our Home Security section here.

Disclaimer: All details in this article are based on publicly available reports from Ankeny Police and verified news sources as of July 2025. Charges mentioned are allegations until proven in court. Any updates will be reflected as more information becomes available.