Des Moines woman charged with second-degree murder in mother’s death

DES MOINES, Iowa — A Des Moines woman was arrested on Thursday in connection to the death of her mother in June 2023.

According to Des Moines Police, on June 14, 2023 at around 12:28 p.m. the police department and Des Moines Fire Department responded to a report of a cardiac arrest in the 5300 block of Urbandale Avenue. When first responders arrived on scene they found 70-year-old Nancy Glaza dead outside of the home.

During the investigation, police learned that the fire department had responded to the house earlier that day at around 10:59 a.m. for a welfare check on Glaza, court documents state. When the fire department arrived at the home 42-year-old Angela Gerdes, Glaza’s daughter, answered the door, but refused to let them inside and told them that no one else was home, court documents state.

Detectives learned that Glaza was a dependent adult and had been relying on her daughter for basic care. When police found Glaza they noted that she appeared to be in an emaciated state and the medical examiner determined Glaza only weighed 69 lbs. at the time of her death. Police said Gerdes had been neglecting to provide basic care and assistance to her mother, and that the home was “unfit, including lacking running water since early 2021.”

A cocker spaniel was also found inside the home. The dog was taken to a veterinarian who determined that the dog was suffering from severe neglect, police said. Due to its condition, the dog was humanely euthanized.

Over a year after Glaza’s death an arrest was made in the case. Police said Gerdes was taken into custody on Thursday after she brought herself to the police department headquarters. Gerdes has been booked into the Polk County Jail on charges of second-degree murder and animal neglect with serious injury or death.

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