SIOUX CITY — Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller described the investigation into the killing of 28-year-old Shaunacie Arielle Peters as “active” and said officers uncovered some “key pieces of evidence” Friday morning.
“So, this is not over just because an arrest of the suspect has occurred,” Mueller said during a noon news conference Friday at police headquarters. “I think there’s a lot of work ahead.”
Late Wednesday afternoon, 46-year-old Irosy Iotis, of Sioux City, was taken into custody in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The SCPD, working with the South Sioux City Police Department, FBI and Wyoming State Patrol, secured an arrest warrant, charging him with first-degree murder in connection with the Sioux City woman’s death. Iotis is currently being held in the Laramie County Jail without bond. The process to extradite him to Woodbury County has begun.
A Sioux City police officer on routine patrol found Peters dead at approximately 6:45 a.m. Monday in a parking lot at Riverside Park, 1301 Riverside Blvd. Based on the scene, Mueller said officers quickly determined the death was likely a homicide.
Mueller described investigating the case initially as a “daunting task.” He said detectives had “little to nothing other than a victim” to go on. He said automated license plate reader (ALPR) technology and cooperation from multiple law enforcement agencies were key in making an arrest. The FBI, South Sioux City Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Wyoming Highway Patrol, Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa Department of Transportation and Laramie County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the investigation.
Mueller said detectives were able to develop a “rough description” of a possible suspect vehicle. With surveillance footage from businesses and residences, as well as information from witnesses, he said a suspect vehicle was identified. Investigators then turned to the ALPR network to determine the suspect vehicle’s whereabouts, which at that time happened to be in western Nebraska.
