An arrest has been made in a homicide that occurred in Pella Monday night.

Michelle Boat, 55, of Pella, is charged with the first degree murder, a Class A felony, in the death of 46-year-old Tracy Mondabough of Ottumwa, also known as Tracy Throgmartin. Mondabough was allegedly in a relationship with Michelle’s estranged husband, Nicholas Boat.

Tracy Mondabough, aka Tracy Throgmartin:

According to court records, Nicholas told police of alleged abuse in March, and that Michelle had assaulted him, resulting in the separation. Michelle was arrested with domestic abuse assault first offense, and a no contact order was established. Michelle is accused of violating that no contact order on two separate occasions since the initial charges.

The Pella Police Department responded to reports of a domestic disturbance in the 100 block of Glenwood Street Monday evening. Upon arrival, officers found an unresponsive adult female. Officers performed lifesaving measures, but Mondabough was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred at 101 Glenwood Street, #4.

A criminal affidavit filed in Marion County District Court stated Tracy was found slumped back against the vehicle’s seat with a seat belt still on, and appeared to have suffered a puncture stab wound to the chest and laceration injuries to her hands. Eyewitness accounts indicated that Mondabough was in the vehicle and another individual standing outside. The person standing outside — identified as Michelle, left the scene in a gray four door Cadillac. The defendant was located at her home. Outside her home
was a gray/silver 4 door Cadillac with visible blood on the outside of the vehicle. The vehicle’s engine and rotors were warm to the touch, according to investigators.

Additional evidence from the Pella Police Department is as follows:
1.) In the washing machine of the defendant’s home was a load of laundry, containing one outfit.
2.) A pair of rubber gloves, with what appeared to be blood on them, were found in the upper tank of the toilet in the defendant’s bathroom.
3.) The defendant is observed on video following the victim both into and out of the Vermeer parking lot. The two vehicles leave the parking lot at approximately 20:10 hrs. The first call to law enforcement was approximately 10 minutes later.
4.) An additional eyewitness heard the person standing outside of the vehicle yell at the person inside the vehicle “He don’t belong to you”
5.) On or about March 20, 2020 the Victim called the Ottumwa Police Department to report that Defendant followed her from Pella, Iowa to Ottumwa, Iowa and that she was requesting law enforcement meet her at a gas station as she was fearful.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Marion County Sheriff’s Office are assisting with the investigation.

An autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death will be conducted by the Office of the State Medical Examiner.

Boat is being held on $2 million bond cash or surety at Marion County Jail. Her next court hearing is May 28, at 1:30pm.

Full criminal complaint: https://dps.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/criminal-investigation/Press%20Release-Local%20Agenciews/Michelle%20Boat%20Complaint%20%26%20Affidavit.pdf