Body identified as Grundy Center man

Press Staff Report

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has confirmed the identity of a body found south of Charles City Friday morning.

The body was found in the area where law enforcement officials earlier this week had requested the public’s help in locating a missing Grundy Center man, and indicated that foul play was suspected in his disappearance.

A news release from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said the body has been identified as Michael Bruce Johns, age 28, of Grundy Center, who was reported missing in late October.

“The manner of death has been ruled a homicide. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the cause of death is not being released at this time,” according to the Press release from the DCI.

On Saturday an autopsy was completed at the Office of the State Medical Examiner by Dr. Dennis Klein and the body was positively identified as that of Johns, according to the report.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Department was notified of the discovery of the body by a farmer Friday morning, near 290th Street and Shadow Avenue about 10 miles south of Charles City.

The Sheriff’s Office, the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI are continuing to investigate.

The Grundy County Sheriff’s Office and the DCI were interested in any sightings or contact with Johns in the area between Charles City, Rockford, Greene and south of Nashua.

Based off of two photos from security footage, law enforcement believe Johns was last seen between Green and Charles City at about 6 a.m. on Oct. 25.

The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office is asking anyone with any information or who remembers anything suspicious near this location back in the early morning hours on Oct. 25 to  contact the Sheriff’s Office at 641-228-1821.