Man charged with second-degree murder in woman’s suspicious death

DES MOINES, Iowa (WHO) — A man has been arrested and charged in the Wednesday death of a woman Des Moines police initially considered suspicious .

Walter Bickham, 58, is charged with second-degree murder, according to Sgt. Paul Parizek of the Des Moines Police Department. Bickham is being held in the Polk County Jail.

DMPD officers and rescue personnel from the Des Moines Fire Department responded to a call for a medical emergency at a residence in the 1500 block of Capitol Avenue around 5:25 p.m. When they arrived, they found a 52-year-old woman in cardiac arrest. Medics provided care and the woman was transported to a hospital, but despite lifesaving efforts, she died.

Sgt. Parizek said evidence indicated suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident including a laceration injury to the woman’s leg that caused significant blood loss at the scene.

Bickham was detained at the scene.

The victim’s name has not yet been released by police.

This is the city’s 12th homicide of 2024.

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