Jury finds Greenfield man guilty of murder

After a five-day trial, a jury in Adair County reached a unanimous verdict in less than one hour Monday, finding Yudiel Vega Blanco, 40, of Greenfield, guilty of murder in the first degree, a Class A felony, and willful injury causing bodily injury, a Class D felony.

In Iowa, which does not have the death penalty, a first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Adair County reports state just after midnight April 19, 2025, law enforcement responded to a Greenfield residence for a reported stabbing. When they arrived the body of a deceased man, identified as Carlos Escalona Garcia, 57, was found in the kitchen. Another male, identified as Jendys Escalona Mendoza, was injured with a laceration across his abdomen.

Others in the home restrained Vega Blanco, who witnesses said seriously injured Mendoza when Mendoza attempted to take a kitchen knife, from Vega Blanco. Vega Blanco then used the knife to fatally stab Garcia in the chest.

A sentencing date has not been scheduled.