×

Sokolowski was victim of domestic abuse

Zackery Bassett arraigned Monday in Hamilton County on charge of murder in first degree

Zackery Bassett

An autopsy, along with information offered by people who knew her, revealed that Andrea Sokolowski was a victim of domestic violence for at least a year and a half prior to her death.

A protective order was in effect at the time of her death, according to the criminal complaint filed with the Hamilton County attorney’s office, Zackery Nelson Bassett, 32, is charged with first-degree murder in her death. He was arrested on Nov. 14 in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Bassett was arraigned in Hamilton County on Monday. Online records show his bail was set at $500,000 cash only. He declined a court-appointed attorney.

Webster City police and paramedics from Van Diest Medical Center were dispatched to an apartment in downtown Webster City, 639 1/2 Second St., Apt. 1, on Sept. 22, on a report of an unresponsive female, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.

The caller, who was Bassett, reported that his girlfriend, Sokolowski, was not breathing.

According to the criminal complaint, “When the ambulance arrived the defendant told the responders that he had awoken and found Sokolowski unresponsive. The defendant said he had called his mom and dad and also performed CPR prior to calling 911. The defendant said he did not start CPR for 15-30 minutes, due to calling his dad first. His father confirmed during a recent interview with investigators that the defendant did not call him or contact him on the night of Sokolowski’s death. The defendant said that both he and Sokolowski had been drinking prior to him finding her unresponsive.”

Sokolowski was pronounced dead at the Van Diest Medical Center emergency room in Webster City.

She was 50.

The autopsy, which was conducted at the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny, found “hemorrhaging near the right carotid artery, petechia hemorrhages to the eyes and face and contusions on the upper arms.”

Investigators learned that earlier in the year Sokolowski suffered numerous injuries.

In two separate incidents during the summer, it’s alleged that Sokolowski suffered an injury to her mouth which required dental work and later was pushed into a window at a motel by Bassett, according to the complaint.

According to investigators, Sokolowski’s legs, arms and neck had been bruised in the months prior to her death.

“Through the investigation it was determined that Sokolowski was a victim of domestic violence for at least a year and a half, prior to her death, from actions by the defendant,” the complaint states. “Family members had received many text messages, calls, conversations and voice messages from Sokolowski, where she described injuries that she got from the defendant. Some of the incidents of violence by the defendant on Sokolowski were reported to law enforcement.

“Several were not reported, but were only known to family and friends of the victim. Through interviews and medical records it was learned that defendant was extremely jealous, controlling, violent and domineering toward Sokolowski over the time of their relationship and in the months leading up to her death. For example, victim’s family members relayed that Sokolowski reported to them numerous times that defendant was engaging in stalking behavior toward her and did surveil her and follow her.”

The report said, “According to many of Sokolowski’s family and friends, it was a regular occurrence for the defendant to vandalize her car by slashing the tires.”

Sokolowski grew up in southern Texas before moving to Iowa later in life, according to her obituary. She leaves behind five children and five grandchildren.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $3.46/week.

Subscribe Today