IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF IOWA

No. 21-1208

Filed January 11, 2023

STATE OF IOWA,

Plaintiff-Appellee,

vs.

JOSHUA JAMES PENDLETON,

Defendant-Appellant.

________________________________________________________________

Appeal from the Iowa District Court for Webster County, Gina C. Badding, 

Judge.

The defendant appeals his convictions for first-degree murder and firstdegree robbery. AFFIRMED.

Martha J. Lucey, State Appellate Defender, and Melinda J. Nye, Assistant 

Appellate Defender, for appellant.

Brenna Bird, Attorney General, and Zachary Miller, Assistant Attorney 

General, for appellee.

Heard by Tabor, P.J., and Schumacher and Chicchelly, JJ. Badding, J., 

takes no part.
2

TABOR, Presiding Judge.

Joshua Pendleton killed Pastor Allen Henderson outside St. Paul’s 

Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. Pendleton also took the pastor’s cell phone. For 

those acts, a jury convicted Pendleton of first-degree murder and first-degree 

robbery. On appeal, Pendleton contends his statements to law enforcement that 

day should have been suppressed. He also challenges the sufficiency of the 

evidence for robbery and for one of two alternative theories marshalled for firstdegree murder. In doing so, he contests the constitutionality of Iowa Code 

section 814.28 (2019) on general verdicts.

Because Pendleton’s statements to police were neither involuntary nor

obtained in violation of his constitutional rights, the district court properly allowed 

them into evidence. And because the proof was sufficient to support both theories 

of first-degree murder, we affirm the convictions without reaching the 

constitutionality of the statute. 

I. Facts and Prior Proceedings

Parishioner Erika, and her son, H.K., arrived early for his confirmation class 

at St. Paul’s. When they arrived around 5:20 p.m., all the entrances were locked. 

But using her church key, Erika and H.K. entered through the main doors and 

settled into the parish office. Pastor Henderson shut off his computer in the office 

and headed into the fellowship hall. As Erika and H.K. conversed in the office, 

they heard a sound. Erika recognized the pastor’s voice, saying: “What are you 

doing here? Why are you here? You don’t belong here.” Soon she and H.K. 

moved to the fellowship hall. 
3

After finishing some homework, H.K. went to look for the pastor. The boy 

took a hallway by the kitchen toward the back door. Erika testified, “Next thing I 

know, he comes running back telling me, ‘Mom, Pastor’s on the ground with blood 

coming out of his head.’” Looking out the back door, Ericka saw Henderson on the 

ground. She called 911. 

When paramedics arrived, they first noted the pastor’s head injury. They 

then checked for vital signs, finding no pulse and no respirations. Their efforts to 

resuscitate him did not succeed. An autopsy recorded a ligature mark on the 

pastor’s neck, as well as bleeding inside his brain. The medical examiner identified 

the cause of death as “blunt force injury of the head with strangulation.”

Back at the crime scene, investigators found evidence of a struggle. Drywall

was damaged in the hallway just inside the church door. The pastor’s glasses 

were on the floor. And the pastor’s gun was under his body. On the sidewalk just 

outside the back door, investigators found a rope with a metal clasp. 

Church surveillance cameras captured some of the action. The video 

showed a man wearing a dark jacket, jeans, and red shoes walking beside the 

church carrying a rope. The man turned a corner and did not re-emerge for nearly 

ten minutes. When he appeared on camera again, his right sleeve was rolled up 

and the rope was gone. But now he was glancing at a cellphone in his right hand. 

It didn’t take investigating officers long to recognize the man in the video as 

Pendleton. They knew Pendleton from previous encounters involving his unstable 

mental health. After identifying Pendleton from the surveillance footage, officers 

walked to his apartment, just two blocks from the church. The apartment was

empty. But officers spotted Pendleton in the front yard walking toward them. He 
4

spoke to them in a stilted manner,1 claiming he heard a girl screaming at the 

church. “He was molesting little girl. I got his phone right here. . . . He wouldn’t 

give it up.” Officers placed Pendleton in handcuffs. 

At the police station, Detective Larry Hedlund interviewed Pendleton. He 

gave Pendleton Miranda warnings2 and obtained a written waiver. Pendleton 

started with this narrative:

That man was very strong. I had to bite him in head. . . . He tried to 

claw my eyes out. . . . I can’t believe how strong he was. And I was 

struggling because the last thing I wanted was for him to shut the 

door and get back in to little girl. ‘Cause I thought he might get rid of 

her. 

Hedlund next asked about the rope on the ground. Pendleton responded:

“That’s my hemp belt . . . I brought it there. I heard little girl screaming. . . . I ring 

bell. And he sees me in door.” Pendleton claimed that he held up his hemp belt

and told Henderson, “I got present for little girl,” as a ruse to get the pastor to open 

the door. Pendleton admitted that when Henderson opened the door, he wrapped

the rope around the pastor’s neck. 

When Hedlund asked about the hole in the drywall, Pendleton answered: “I 

made it.” Pendleton then described the pastor pushing the rope off his neck while

Pendleton held the back door open with his foot. Pendleton also said he bit 

Henderson on the head “because he was overpowering me.” 

1 Throughout the evening, Pendleton slipped in and out of a Russian accent, 

featuring grammar lapses.

2 See generally Miranda v. Arizona, 384 U.S. 436 (1966). 
5

As for the pastor’s cellphone, Pendleton explained: “I said give me phone 

because he . . . had it in pocket. I said I’m taking phone because I thought he was 

recording it. . . . I thought he was trying to record his sex acts with the little girl.”

Pendleton then decided he would end the interview: “I’m not gonna talk 

anymore, can I leave?” And he asked for an attorney. Hearing those invocations, 

Hedlund stopped the interview and arrested Pendleton.

In October 2019, the State charged Pendleton with first-degree robbery for 

taking Henderson’s cellphone and first-degree murder, alleging both premeditation 

and participation in the forcible felony of robbery. The court halted proceedings in 

February 2020, finding that Pendleton was not competent to stand trial. After he 

received treatment for his schizophrenia, Pendleton’s prosecution resumed in 

June 2020. That fall, he gave notice of his intent to raise an insanity defense. 

Pendleton also moved to suppress statements he made to police on the day 

of his arrest. In considering suppression, the district court divided his statements 

into four phases: (1) when he was handcuffed outside his apartment; (2) when he 

was at the police station but before the Miranda waiver; (3) after he signed the

written waiver of his Miranda rights; and (4) after he invoked his Miranda rights to 

remain silent and counsel. The court suppressed statements Pendleton made 

during the second and fourth phases but allowed all other statements. 

At trial, the court instructed the jury to find Pendleton guilty of first-degree 

murder if it found that he either “acted willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly, and 

with a specific intent to kill” or “was participating in the offense of robbery in the

first or second degree.” On general verdict forms, the jury found Pendleton guilty 

of first-degree murder and first-degree robbery. Pendleton appeals. 
6

II. Analysis

Pendleton makes two arguments. First, he contends that the district court 

should have suppressed all statements he made to police on the day of his arrest. 

Second, he insists the State presented insufficient proof of felony murder. And 

from there, he challenges the constitutionality of Iowa Code section 814.28, which 

allows courts to uphold a general verdict if substantial evidence supports at least 

one alternative theory.

A. Suppression of Statements

The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and article 1, section 9 of the 

Iowa Constitution protect a criminal defendant from compulsory self-incrimination. 

See U.S. Const. amend V; Iowa Const. art. 1, § 9; State v. Gibbs, 941 N.W.2d 888, 

894 (Iowa 2020). “When a defendant challenges the denial of a motion to suppress 

based on an asserted constitutional violation, we review the district court ruling de 

novo.” State v. Sallis, 981 N.W.2d 336, 344981 (Iowa 2022). “We examine the 

entire record to independently evaluate the totality of the circumstances based on 

each case’s unique situation.” State v. Price-Williams, 973 N.W.2d 556, 531 (Iowa 

2022). We defer to the district court’s fact findings, especially on witness

credibility, but we are not bound by them. Id. “We consider both the evidence 

introduced at the suppression hearing as well as the evidence introduced at trial.” 

State v. Hunter, 947 N.W.2d 657, 660 (Iowa Ct. App. 2020) (quoting State v. 

Palmer, 791 N.W.2d 840, 844 (Iowa 2010)).

Pendleton’s suppression argument is threefold. First, he seeks to exclude 

his replies to police questions after he was handcuffed but before he was 

Mirandized. Second, he claims his Miranda waiver was not knowing and voluntary. 
7

And third, he contends all his statements were involuntary because he was 

suffering from unmedicated schizophrenia. 

1. Volunteered Statements 

A failure to provide a Miranda advisory warrants suppression of a suspect’s

statements made during a custodial interrogation. State v. Countryman, 572 

N.W.2d 553, 557 (Iowa 1997). Custody means police have limited a suspect’s 

freedom to act on the scale of a formal arrest. State v. Bogan, 774 N.W.2d 676, 

680 (Iowa 2009). Interrogation includes both express questioning, as well as

words or actions that an officer would know were reasonably likely to elicit an

incriminating response. Rhode Island v. Innis, 446 U.S. 291, 301 (1980).

We consider the police encounter with Pendleton outside his apartment. As 

captured on their body cameras, Pendleton approached the officers claiming to 

have heard a girl screaming. Officer Evan Thompson replied “okay” and then 

directed Pendleton to “show me your hands real quick.” Thompson then 

handcuffed Pendleton, saying: “I just want to detain you at this point.” Pendleton 

responded, “That’s fine.” And before officers asked any questions, Pendleton 

made a muffled statement that ended with “had taser in pocket.” Asking for 

clarification, Thompson responded “okay who’s that?” Pendleton answered “that’s 

a bad man down there.” Thompson asked, “down by the church there?” And 

Pendleton responded yes. 

Thompson then introduced Detective Hedlund and asked Pendleton 

whether he would speak to Hedlund at the station. Pendleton looked at the 

detective and volunteered: “Yes, he was molesting little girl.” Pendleton continued, 

telling officers that he had taken Henderson’s phone. Officers asked Pendleton if 
8

he had any weapons, patted him down, and prepared to transport him to the 

station. During the pat down, the officer said, “this is just for our safety.” Pendleton 

responded “I wouldn’t hurt nobody innocent” and recalled asking Henderson “what 

are you doing to that little girl?”3 

Pendleton argues that he was in custody and subjected to interrogation as 

soon as he encountered the officers. Like the district court, we agree he was in 

custody but not interrogated. “Statements made after a person is taken into 

custody are not automatically considered the product of interrogation.” State v. 

Turner, 630 N.W.2d 601, 608 (Iowa 2001). For instance, “statements that are 

volunteered, spontaneous and freely made by an arrested person do not come 

within the scope of Miranda.” Id. 

Pendleton points to two exchanges when officers knew they would elicit an 

incriminating response. First, Officer Thompson asked “who’s that?” after 

Pendleton mentioned someone having a taser. Because that question focused on 

a safety matter related to Pendleton’s detention, we do not find a Miranda violation. 

See State v. Sallis, 574 N.W.2d 15, 18 (Iowa 1998) (quoting Innis, 446 U.S. at 

301); see also New York v. Quarles, 467 U.S. 649, 657 (1984) (recognizing 

Miranda exception in situation imperiling public safety).

Second, Thompson asked Pendleton if he would speak to Detective 

Hedlund. In a non-responsive reply, Pendleton asserted he would not harm an 

innocent person. Contrasting that assertion with his distorted belief about the 

pastor, Pendleton said he caught Henderson “in the act” of molesting a girl. 

3 Pendleton said Henderson at one point told him it was not a little girl but a little 

boy, in apparent reference to H.K. 
9

Contrary to Pendleton’s argument, Thompson had no reason to know that his 

benign inquiry would encourage Pendleton to incriminate himself on the spot. 

Pendleton’s volunteered statement was not the product of interrogation. See State 

v. Brown, 176 N.W.2d 180, 183 (Iowa 1970). 

Pendleton’s statements at his apartment were admissible.

2. Miranda Waiver

Next, Pendleton lobbies for the suppression of his statements made after 

the Miranda waiver. At the police station, Detective Hedlund joined Pendleton in 

an interview room. About five minutes in, Hedlund showed Pendleton a Miranda

rights form. Pendleton read his rights out loud and then signed the waiver.

4

 To be 

valid, a Miranda waiver must be knowing, intelligent, and voluntary. State v. Tyler, 

867 N.W.2d 136, 174 (Iowa 2015). A waiver is voluntary when it is “the product of 

the suspect’s free and deliberate choice rather than intimidation, coercion, or 

deception” by the police. Id. (citation omitted). We look at the totality of the 

circumstances and these factors:

Defendant’s age; whether defendant had prior experience in the 

criminal justice system; whether defendant was under the influence 

of drugs; . . . whether defendant was mentally “subnormal”; whether 

deception was used; whether defendant showed an ability to 

understand the questions and respond; the length of time defendant 

was detained and interrogated; defendant’s physical and emotional 

reaction to interrogation; whether physical punishment, including 

deprivation of food and sleep, was used.

4 While not alone sufficient, a written waiver provides “strong proof” of 

voluntariness. Countryman, 572 N.W.2d at 559. 
10

Id. at 175 (citation omitted). Among these factors, Pendleton focuses on his mental 

condition: untreated schizophrenia. He contends his Miranda waiver was 

involuntary because he was “under the influence of schizophrenic hallucinations.”

It’s true that Pendleton had struggled with schizophrenia for at least fifteen 

years. His mother testified that two weeks before the killing, he had been 

experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations because he was not taking his 

medication. She tried to get her son help, but he was unwilling to accept treatment 

from the mental-health center. 

What’s not as clear cut is the effect of Pendleton’s schizophrenia on his 

ability to waive Miranda and answer the detective’s questions. Experts at trial gave

conflicting opinions on Pendleton’s mental state.5 The State offered testimony 

from Pendleton’s treating physician. Dr. Gary Keller diagnosed Pendleton with 

schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type, and amphetamine use disorder. But 

because the doctor did not treat Pendleton until months after the interrogation, he 

could not distinguish if Pendleton’s behaviors stemmed from prolonged drug use 

or his mental illness. 

The defense countered with testimony from neuropsychologist Daniel 

Tranel, who evaluated Pendleton over one year after the incident. Dr. Tranel

believed Pendleton was acting under “a diseased or deranged condition of the 

mind” on the day of the killing. But on cross-examination, Dr. Tranel acknowledged

that he did not review the videos from that day. Another defense expert witness, 

psychiatrist Arnold Andersen, examined Pendleton for competency in January 

5 At oral argument, the parties agreed that trial evidence supporting and opposing 

Pendleton’s insanity defense was relevant to this suppression question.
11

2020, about four months after the killing. Dr. Andersen observed that Pendleton 

was “behaving very abnormally” and his statements were “nonsensical.” But Dr. 

Anderson also did not review video from the day of the killing.

In contrast, the State’s rebuttal expert, psychiatrist James Dennert, 

examined all the video evidence before forming his opinion. He considered that 

footage as “[t]he best evidence for [Pendleton’s] state of mind at the time of the 

incident.” In Dr. Dennert‘s opinion, Pendleton “did not suffer any mental 

impairment or derangement” that day. Not at the time of the killing. And not at the 

time of the interrogation. Dr. Dennert noted that Pendleton highlighted “a logical 

inconsistency” in the Miranda warning for Detective Hedlund. Dr. Dennert also 

testified about Pendleton’s ability to understand the interrogation process:

Throughout the interview, he responded appropriately. He asked 

pertinent questions. His comments were pertinent and appropriate. 

He seemed to understand the situation and he said things and did 

things that reasonably interpreted as indicating that he is trying to 

present himself in the light that he wishes to present himself.

While the evidence on Pendleton’s psychiatric condition was mixed, we are 

persuaded by Dr. Dennert’s assessment that his “mental subnormality” did not 

prevent Pendleton from knowingly and voluntarily waiving his Miranda rights. See 

State v. Davidson, 340 N.W.2d 770, 773 (Iowa 1983) (stating that “mental 

subnormality does not itself deprive a waiver or confession of voluntariness”).

Furthermore, when we turn to the totality of the circumstances, most of the 

factors weigh on the side of a knowing and voluntary waiver. For instance, 

Pendleton was thirty-six years old and had previous encounters with police, having 

been arrested for minor offenses. The record does not suggest Pendleton was 

under the influence of drugs. Nor did the detective use deception. To the contrary, 
12

Hedlund’s approach was clear and straightforward. He did not intimidate, coerce, 

or trick Pendleton into waiving his rights. See Tyler, 867 N.W.2d at 174. The

interview format was not coercive. The questioning took place the evening of the 

killing, but not late into the night. It lasted less than thirty minutes. Pendleton was 

offered a drink and received a can of diet Mountain Dew. 

And Pendleton was not daunted by the setting. One example: in the middle 

of his Miranda warning, Pendleton declared, “I don’t need legal representation, I 

have the truth.” Hedlund said “okay” and asked Pendleton to keep reading. When 

Hedlund confronted Pendleton about his Russian accent, the suspect explained—

in a self-deprecating manner—that he picked it up from a phone app and he fakes 

an accent because it is “appealing to women.” 

In deciding whether his mental condition prevented a voluntary waiver or 

confession, we look to Pendleton’s “comportment and demeanor.” See Davidson, 

340 N.W.2d at 773. Pendleton remained calm and cooperative until the end when 

Hedlund arrested him for murder. Even if he were experiencing symptoms of 

schizophrenia, Pendleton’s demeanor and discussion showed he understood his 

Miranda rights and made a voluntary waiver. 

That understanding was on display when Pendleton invoked his right to 

silence and right to counsel. Pendleton asked if the interview was being recorded; 

Hedlund responded, “of course,” and pointed at a camera in the corner. When 

Hedlund posed another question, Pendleton declared, “I’m not gonna speak 

anymore. Can I go?” Hedlund replied: “I need to check on something.” Pendleton

then insisted, “I want lawyer.” Hedlund ended the interview but asked to 

photograph Pendleton’s hands. At first, Pendleton agreed but then changed his 
13

mind: “no, I don’t want pictures of hands here until lawyer comes.” This exchange 

shows Pendleton understood his rights and knew how to invoke them, bolstering 

the inference that he knowingly and voluntarily waived them earlier. From our de 

novo review, we find Pendleton’s post-Miranda statements were admissible. 

3. Due Process Violation

Pendleton closes with an argument that all of his statements to police were 

involuntary and therefore admitting them into evidence violated his right to due 

process. The test for voluntariness is the same under Miranda as it is for due 

process. Tyler, 867 N.W.2d at 176. So for the reasons recited in the previous 

section, we find Pendleton voluntarily made his statements to police.6

B. Substantial Evidence 

“We review sufficiency of the evidence claims for correction of errors at law.” 

State v. Crawford, 974 N.W.2d 510, 516 (Iowa 2022). We consider whether, when 

taken in the light most favorable to the State, the verdicts are supported by 

substantial evidence. Id. Evidence is substantial if it would convince a rational 

trier of fact that Pendleton is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Id. 

Pendleton argues we should vacate his robbery conviction because the 

State offered insufficient evidence of his intent to commit a theft. What’s more, if 

the State did not prove robbery, according to Pendleton, it did not prove the forcible 

6 The State contends that because Pendleton confessed to killing Henderson and 

advanced an insanity defense, admitting his statements was harmless error. 

Because we reject his suppression arguments, we need not address this 

alternative contention.
14

felony alternative of first-degree murder, requiring that conviction to be overturned

as well.

7

Granted, the jury returned general verdicts on the two murder alternatives.8 

Under prior law, if the evidence was insufficient under one alternative, we would 

not try to divine which alternative the jury embraced and instead would reverse for 

retrial. See, e.g., State v. Tyler, 873 N.W.2d 741, 754 (Iowa 2016). But Iowa Code 

section 814.28, enacted in 2019, now prohibits reversing a general verdict “on the 

basis of a defective or insufficient theory if one or more of the theories presented 

and described . . . is sufficient to sustain the verdict on at least one count.” 

Pendleton challenges section 814.28 on constitutional grounds, arguing it violates 

the separation of powers, due process, and equal protection.9 But we need not 

reach those arguments because both alternatives are supported by the record. 

We start with the robbery instructions. To convict Pendleton of first-degree

robbery, the jury had to find:

7 Pendleton does not challenge the State’s proof of premediated murder. 

8 To convict Pendleton of first-degree murder, the jury had to find: 

1. On or about the 2nd day of October 2019, Mr. Pendleton 

struck and/or strangled Allen Henderson

2. Allen Henderson died as a result of being struck and/or 

strangled.

3. Mr. Pendleton acted with malice aforethought.

4. Mr. Pendleton either:

(a) acted willfully, deliberately, premeditatedly, and with a 

specific intent to kill Allen Henderson; or

(b) was participating in the offense of [r]obbery in the [f]irst or 

[s]econd [d]egree. 

9 Given the timing of his briefing, Pendleton’s routing statement recommended the 

supreme court transfer this appeal to our court because another case pending 

before the supreme court would resolve those constitutional issues. But that 

decision, State v. West Vangen, filed in June 2022, did not resolve the 

constitutionality of section 814.28. 975 N.W.2d 344, 348–51 (Iowa 2022). 
15

1. On or about the 2nd day of October 2019, Mr. Pendleton 

had the specific intent to commit a theft;

2. To carry out that intention or to assist him in escaping from 

the scene, with or without stolen property, Mr. Pendleton either:

a. Committed an assault as defined in Instruction No. 37 on 

Allen Henderson; or

b. Threatened Allen Henderson with, or purposely put Allen 

Henderson in fear of, immediate serious injury; and 

3. While perpetrating the robbery, Mr. Pendleton:

a. Purposely inflicted or attempted to inflict a serous injury on 

Allen Henderson; or

b. Was armed with a dangerous weapon 

Or the jury could find second-degree robbery if:

1. On or about the 2nd day of October 2019, Mr. Pendleton 

had the specific intent to commit a theft. 

2. In carrying out his intention or to assist him in escaping from 

the scene, with or without the stolen property, Mr. Pendleton:

a. Committed an assault on Allen Henderson as defined in 

Instruction No. 37; or

b. Threatened Allen Henderson with, or purposely put Allen 

Henderson in fear of, immediate serious injury. 

Pendleton claims the State offered insufficient proof that he intended to commit a 

theft. The jury did not receive a theft instruction, but our code provides “[a] person 

commits theft when the person . . . [t]akes possession or control of the property of 

another . . . with the intent to deprive the other thereof.” Iowa Code § 714.1(1). 

The property at issue is the pastor’s cell phone. Pendleton claims he did 

not have a specific intent to take the phone because he “was acting in response to 

a delusion that Henderson was sexually abusing a child in church and was using 

the phone to record the abuse.” In other words, Pendleton “took the phone 

because he believed it was evidence of the crime.” 

But even if Pendleton believed he was acting for righteous reasons, the jury 

could reasonably find he “[took] possession or control” of the phone “with the intent 
16

to deprive” the pastor of the property.10 Pendleton told Hedlund how he used the 

hemp belt to lure Henderson out of the building before attacking him. In his 

interview, Pendleton claimed that he seized the phone because he believed that 

Henderson was using it to record sex acts. Pendleton also told officers that when 

he tried to take the phone, Henderson “wouldn’t give it up.” Considering 

Pendleton’s dubious motive, the jury could reasonably conclude his intent was to

permanently deprive Henderson of his phone. 

Pendleton also submits that if his “intent were to rob Henderson, certainly 

he would have taken . . . other valuables,” including the pastor’s gun, his wallet, 

and his cash—all of which were found on or near the body. But the State did not 

have to explain why Pendleton did not steal all items in Henderson’s possession. 

It was enough that the State offered proof that Pendleton had the specific intent to 

deprive Henderson of the phone. The State proved beyond a reasonable doubt 

that Pendleton committed robbery and thus was “participating in” a forcible felony

when he killed Henderson. Because both murder alternatives are supported, we 

need not delve into Pendleton’s constitutional challenges to section 814.28. See 

West Vangen, 975 N.W.2d at 351. 

III. Conclusion 

We find no grounds to suppress the challenged statements. And substantial 

evidence supports both the robbery verdict and the felony-murder theory for firstdegree murder. Thus, we affirm Pendleton’s convictions. 

AFFIRMED.

10 Section 714.1(1) “requires more than a temporary dispossessing of another’s 

property.” State v. Berger, 438 N.W.2d 29, 31 (Iowa Ct. App. 1989).