MUSCATINE COUNTY, Iowa — A Davenport man will spend decades in prison for his role in a man's drowning death.
On Friday, Jan. 5, Joshua Peters was sentenced to 29 years in prison after being found guilty of homicide by vehicle, operating a vehicle without the owner's consent and driving while barred. Peters waived his right to a jury trial, leaving the verdict to the court.
Peters entered a Chevy Equinox owned by William Talbot with Talbot still inside on April 21, 2022. While high on methamphetamine, Peters took control of the car and began driving away from the campsite where Talbot's family was staying near the Mississippi River in Muscatine County. He ultimately drove the car into the river before being arrested by the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office.
Peters' driver's license will also be revoked for six years, and he was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to Talbot's family.
Case background:
William, his wife Ona and their daughter Lindsey Frey drove to Fairport Recreation Area, a campsite along the Mississippi River. William stayed in the car while Ona and Frey began pitching a tent, as William walked with a cane and couldn't help. While William waited in the passenger seat, Peters jumped into the driver's seat and began backing out of the campsite at a high rate of speed.
Peters said he snorted meth before entering the vehicle, either in the backseat of the Equinox or at the campsite. He began showing signs of extreme paranoia, later saying he believed a group of "Mexican guys" were after him at the campground. Nobody who witnessed the incident corroborated this.
Ona, Frey and a few others at the campsite watched as Peters began driving west on Highway 22 before making a U-turn and heading east towards Davenport. He drove for about seven miles until the vehicle reached Clark's Ferry Recreation Area in Montpelier. He turned right at Tombstone Trail, accelerated to 50 miles an hour and launched off a boat ramp into the Mississippi River.
Williams was trapped in the Equinox as it sank for 10 minutes, ultimately drowning. Peters escaped the vehicle and swam 100 feet to shore.
He found his way to a truck, owned by brothers Lyle and Daniel Sindt, and began banging on the windows. Lyle confronted Peters, who asked for a ride. After walking across the street and back, Peters asked for a ride again.
The Sindt brothers allowed Peters into their home on Tombstone Trail to warm up, since he was shivering and soaking wet. Once inside, Daniel held Peters at gunpoint with a shotgun while Lyle called 911. Peters gave his name to the dispatcher and said he'd been in an accident.
Peters was arrested by deputies at the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office, where he gave "bizarre and illogical at best" responses to interview questions.
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