ROCKWELL CITY — Family members of 17-year-old Michele “Luna” Jackson wept in court Wednesday afternoon after hearing a judge rule that her killer would be charged with first-degree murder.

Jackson was murdered September 22, 2024, by Nathaniel Bevers McGivney, 22, at the Farnhamville City Park.

On the second day of testimony in Bevers McGivney’s bench trial in Calhoun County District Court, the court heard from Aislinn Chambers, a DNA specialist from the state crime lab. Chambers identified multiple blood samples found in the City Park, in Bevers McGivney’s apartment, and on his clothing.

Dr. Jacob Smith, an associate state medical examiner, also took the stand. Smith stated that at the medical examiner’s office, he removed Jackson’s body from the trash can where Bevers McGivney had hid her. He then performed her autopsy. Jackson’s family members cried in court as Smith described the 22 stab wounds to Jackson’s torso, multiple stab wounds to her head, neck and torso, and the large wound from where Bevers McGivney had cut Jackson’s throat “from ear to ear” severing her right and left jugular veins, carotid artery and her airway.

Smith detailed his autopsy procedures and when asked about a toxicology test told the court that Jackson “did not have enough blood in her body for toxicology testing.”

Smith also told the court that there were no defensive wounds found on Jackson’s body.

The State rested their case at mid-morning Wednesday. The defense only asked to submit a deposition from Bevers McGivney’s aunt, Leilani Lint, which was approved.

In closing statements, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Andrew Prosser told the court that Bevers McGivney “acted willfully, deliberately, and with specific intent to kill” Jackson.

Prosser noted that while no motive was known, that didn’t mean that he wasn’t aware of his actions.

“He walked to the park, saw her, was armed with a knife with more than one blade, quietly approached her, cut her throat, and stabbed her 26 times,” said Prosser. “Those are the acts of someone who has thought about what they are going to do.”

Defense attorney Charles Kenville argued that if Bevers McGivney had planned the murder, his actions wouldn’t have been haphazard, noting that he didn’t conceal evidence and was found walking the Farnhamville streets while covered in Jackson’s blood.

“This is a very sad but random spontaneous event,” said Kenville. “He didn’t conceal evidence. The knife with blood and hair materials were found in his apartment. He didn’t put Jackson’s body in his car. Premeditation does not mean you have to plan out the perfect murder.”

Kenville also noted that there was no motive or connection between Bevers McGivney and Jackson, stating that the two did not know one another nor was it believed that they had previously met.

“This was a brutal attack,” said Kenville. “But not premeditated. I am asking the court to find the defendant not guilty of first-degree murder but guilty of second-degree murder and the second count.”

Judge Derek Johnson deliberated for nearly two hours before ruling that Bevers McGivney was guilty of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse for his attempts to hide Jackson’s body.

“The defendant used an interchangeable knife commonly used for gutting animals,” said Johnson in his ruling. “There was blood on the floor, bathtub and towels in his apartment. He gave conflicting explanations as to why he was in possession of the scooter. He had cuts and lacerations, and there were no defensive wounds found on Michele Jackson.”

Bevers McGivney will be sentenced on August 15 at 10 a.m. in Calhoun County District Court.