Jury finds Urbandale man guilty of first-degree murder

A Polk County jury convicted Dustin Lee Sample, 38, of first-degree murder Wednesday in the beating death of his wife, Mary. 

Mary Sample’s body was found in their home in Urbandale on Dec. 12, 2020, with traumatic head trauma. The prosecution presented evidence of the injuries she sustained, the findings of the medical examiner, and digital evidence that contradicted the statements the defendant made to law enforcement.

Murder in the First Degree carries a sentence of mandatory life in prison. 

The case was prosecuted by Meggan Guns and Thomas Tolbert, with legal assistance from Lindsay Scott. The investigation was led by Special Agents Mark Ludwick and Special Agent in Charge Adam DeCamp of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, and Detective Andy Morlan of the Urbandale Police Department.

If you are a victim of domestic violence, please reach out for help. In an emergency, please call 911. Here are other resources for victims: 

Children & Families of Iowa’s Domestic Violence Services: 515-243-6147 or 1-800-942-0333 

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)  

The Iowa Victims Service Call Center: Call 24/7 at 1-800-770-1650, or text IOWAHELP to 20121. See survivorshelp.org. 

The Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence: icadv.org. 

The Safe at Home program:  safeathome.iowa.gov. 

The Love is Respect Teen Dating Violence Hotline:1-866-331-9474 or text LOVEIS to 22522. Learn more at loveisrespect.org.