THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
James Naujock
#1104849
photo courtesy Dickinson County News
Full Name: James Michael Naujock
DOB: January 29, 1971
Charge: Attempted murder
County: Dickinson
City: Spirit Lake
Current Status: Anamosa State Penitentiary
Date of Crime: July 27, 2010
Tentative Discharge Date: November 16, 2031
Victim: Val Waltz
DOB: January 29, 1971
Charge: Attempted murder
County: Dickinson
City: Spirit Lake
Current Status: Anamosa State Penitentiary
Date of Crime: July 27, 2010
Tentative Discharge Date: November 16, 2031
Victim: Val Waltz
James Michael Naujock lived in the home of a 57-year-old woman in Spirit Lake. Early on the morning of July 27, 2010, the woman, Val Waltz, heard James come downstairs. Moments later, she was hit on the head, saw stars, and fell to her knees. She turned to see James with a fireplace poker in his hands. According to Val, he was holding the poker “like when you hold a baseball bat to swing.”
James took a running skip towards her and struck her with the poker. As he did so, he stated, “I’m killing you, you die.” James landed blows to Val’s skull, throat and neck. She begged for her life. James responded by trying to pull down the blinds in the living room. He declared, “[When] I get done killing you, I’m going to kill your family,” and pressed the fireplace poker against Val’s throat. Val started losing her breath and though she was dying. James proceeded to pound her head and face with his fists, stating, “[You] are not dying fast enough.” He then went after her with a butcher knife and managed to cut her throat and stab her in her chest and upper abdomen before law enforcement officers arrived. The officers found James standing over the woman, knife in hand.
James took a running skip towards her and struck her with the poker. As he did so, he stated, “I’m killing you, you die.” James landed blows to Val’s skull, throat and neck. She begged for her life. James responded by trying to pull down the blinds in the living room. He declared, “[When] I get done killing you, I’m going to kill your family,” and pressed the fireplace poker against Val’s throat. Val started losing her breath and though she was dying. James proceeded to pound her head and face with his fists, stating, “[You] are not dying fast enough.” He then went after her with a butcher knife and managed to cut her throat and stab her in her chest and upper abdomen before law enforcement officers arrived. The officers found James standing over the woman, knife in hand.