Charges dismissed in cold case murder

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ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa — Perjury charges against 83-year-old John Van Gammeren have been dismissed without prejudice, according to a news release issued this afternoon by the Lyon County Attorney’s Office.

Van Gammeren was charged in August 2009 with six counts of perjury — charges which stemmed from the cold case investigation into the murder of Wilma June Nissen. Nissen’s body was found in a ditch near the West Lyon School in October 1978, but was not identified until 2006.

The delay in proceeding with the charges arose from ongoing discussions between Lyon County Attorney Carl Peterson, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Van Gammeren and his attorney, the release states.

“Perjury is a very unique criminal proceeding,” Peterson stated in the release. “It affords a defendant the opportunity to erase his allegations of providing false testimony by making truthful statement to law enforcement under oath.”

Van Gammeren and his attorney reportedly cooperated with law enforcement after the complaints were filed.

“The investigation has substantial new information to determine the fate of Nissen,” Peterson stated, adding that no further comments regarding the dismissed charged would be made. “Any further comments may hamper the ongoing investigation.”

For more information, read tomorrow's Daily Globe.

Tags: van gammeren, iowa, crime, news, perjury, nissen