August 20, 2025 – Dubuque, Iowa

The Iowa Court of Appeals has affirmed the first-degree murder conviction of Romell Enoch in the death of Kylie Duster, rejecting his appeal that argued insufficient evidence for premeditation and specific intent. The decision, published on August 20, 2025, under Opinion Number 24-1151, was issued by a three-judge panel led by Chief Judge Tabor, with Judges Greer and Buller, and authored by Judge Greer.

Enoch was convicted by a Dubuque County jury for the murder of Kylie Duster. In his appeal, Enoch contended that the evidence presented at trial did not support the jury’s finding of premeditation or intent to kill, key elements required for a first-degree murder conviction. Instead, he argued that the incident occurred after “serious provocation” during an assault, which he claimed should reduce his charge to voluntary manslaughter.

The Court of Appeals, after reviewing the case without oral argument, disagreed. In the nine-page opinion, Judge Greer wrote that “substantial evidence supports the jury’s determination that Enoch committed first-degree murder in the killing of Duster.” The court found the prosecution’s evidence sufficient to prove Enoch acted with premeditation and the specific intent to cause Duster’s death, thereby upholding the original conviction.

The ruling affirms the decision of the Iowa District Court for Dubuque County, presided over by Judge Michael J. Shubatt. The full opinion, detailing the court’s reasoning, is available for download as a PDF (151.42 KB) from the Iowa Court of Appeals website.

This decision marks the latest development in a case that has drawn attention in Dubuque, closing the chapter on Enoch’s appeal and solidifying the jury’s verdict. Neither the prosecution nor the defense has commented on whether further appeals to a higher court are planned.

For more details, the complete Court of Appeals Opinion can be accessed online.

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