23-05-2025
Jury convicts Des Moines man of first-degree murder for beating girlfriend
DES MOINES, Iowa — A Polk County jury convicted a Des Moines man of first-degree murder for beating his girlfriend to death in 2024.
61-year-old Derrick Andray Earnest was convicted of beating his girlfriend, 49-year-old Holly Snowgren, to death on April 19, 2024.
The incident occurred in an alley east of Good Park between 14th Street and 14th Place, according to Polk County. Ring and Nest cameras in the area captured the defendant arguing with the victim and then beating her with a wooden 2-by-10 board, punching, and kicking her, according to the Polk County court. In the recordings, Earnest can be heard threatening to kill her, while Snowgren said his name and pleaded for him to stop.
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Polk County says evidence showed that approximately 40 minutes after the assault, around 2:42 a.m., the defendant took the victim to the Methodist Medical Center emergency room. Snowgren suffered broken ribs, lacerations, a stab wound, and other injuries. She was pronounced dead the same day, later in the morning.
Earnest was arrested later on April 19 and charged with first-degree murder. Polk County says the jury deliberated around two hours before announcing the verdict on Friday. Earnest faces life in prison without parole. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 23.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant County Attorneys Shannon Bogolin and Caleb Copley, assisted by Lindsay Scott. The investigation was led by Detective Brad Youngblut of the Des Moines Police Department.
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