Photo: Osborn Eugene Gavel
A Mountain Home man is in the Hardin County, Iowa, jail facing first-degree murder charges.
Twenty-two-year-old Osborn Eugene Gavel’s charge stems from the beating death of 74-year-old Steve Reece, according to the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office.
Reece, who lived along Commercial Street in Union, Iowa, was known to allow people going through hard times to stay at his residence.
The victim was also said to buy groceries for people in the community and to give rides if asked.
It is reported Gavel and several others stayed in the residence the night before the body was found.
In an interview with an Iowa television station, a clerk at a convenience store the victim frequented said it was concerning that the elderly man let people who were down-and-out into his home.
She said family, friends and neighbors were worried about him, fearing that he might be hurt or worse by one of the people he sheltered.
The Hardin County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call about 5:30 Tuesday morning reporting an unresponsive male at Reece’s address.
According to the sheriff’s office, it is believed Reece died after allegedly being struck by Gavel.
The body was found in a bedroom of the residence.
According to electronic court records, Gavel is being held in the Hardin County jail with bond set at $1 million cash.
A preliminary hearing is set for Gavel in Hardin County Oct. 22.
Gavel has an open criminal case in Baxter County. He was arrested May 28 on drug-related charges stemming from a traffic stop.
A Mountain Home police officer pulled over a vehicle in which Gavel was a passenger.
During the stop, it was discovered that both the driver and Gavel had active arrest warrants.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Gavel claimed ownership to a black backpack containing several different drug types.
He is charged in Baxter County Circuit Court with possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
He was free on a $5,000 bond at the time of his arrest in Iowa.
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