Lang
6/28/25
A Columbus Junction man is accused of dragging a human body down a gravel road with a van.
The Louisa County Sheriff’s Office says 58-year-old Salvador Castaneda was seen dragging the body of Noe Ibarra-Tijerina down Collins Road and R Avenue southeast of Columbus Junction around 4:30 Wednesday afternoon. The van Castaneda was driving was found in a ditch, with a black cord hanging from it. Ibarra-Tijerina’s body was found in the opposite ditch with what appeared to be the other end of the cord tied around his waist. The body had injuries consistent with being dragged down a gravel road.
Investigators found a cellphone and a handgun inside the vehicle.
While arrest records do not indicate how Ibarra-Tijerina died, they do say police found a pool of blood, a shell casing, and a bloody trail and drag marks at a building on Collins Road. The trail of blood led from the building to the crash site.
Castaneda was found on Collins Road. He reportedly had the keys to the van on his person and blood stains on his clothing. Castaneda was arrested and charged with Abuse of a Corpse, a Class C Felony punishable by a maximum of ten years in prison. More charges may be pending.