warning: Graphic content, readers’ discretion advised. This story contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some readers discretion advised.
Bodycam footage captured the investigation into the murder of a pregnant woman in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Police said 38-year-old Brittany Hopkins’ body was found wrapped in a sheet, bound with electrical tape, and stuffed in a shopping cart, hidden underneath bags of trash behind a garage.
Weeks later, law enforcement caught up with her killer in Las Vegas.
It’s an early February morning in Cedar Rapids , Iowa when police received a distrubing 911 call,you heard that right, the caller reports finding a body wrapped in a blanket and stuffed in a shopping cart.
first responders confirmed the report saying there is a quote ” obvious body” stuffed in a shopping cart and stashed behind a set of garages at an apartment complex.
Next, the officer gets a closer look.
Investigators later identify the victim as 38 year old Britney Hopkins, a mother of three who is between 15 to 19 weeks pregnant with her fourth child.
Medical examiner determined.
Police said a homeless women stumbled upon the crime scene when she was allegedly trying use the crt for herself.
That’s when she tells police she noticed the body and alerted a man nearby who called police.
Next, officers check in with another witness.
Moments later, a detective arrives on scene when the officer fills in on the situation.
And it doesn’t take long for something to catch the detective’s eyes.
The detective points out suspected cart tracks leading from the parking lot .
To the area where the body was found.
The investigators decide to transport the cart with the body still inside to process the evidence away from the elements.
It would take investigators five days to hone in their main suspect.
51 year old.Donnie White, who family members said was in a relationship with the victim.
Police then released Donnie’s name to the public, asking for any information on the case.
when they said a caller reported seeing him and Britney together days before the murder and another reporting they were with the couple a day before the body was found when he witnessed Donnie physically assault the victim.
We join officers as they approach the aparment th suspect was allegedly living in, located just across the street from the complex where the body was found.
Police spot a large discolored area of carpet they suspecte to be caused by bleach from a cleanup attempt.
But that’s not all.
Blood spatter is spotted in various places around the room ,including a bloody handprint.
Investigators also find bleach clothing ,electrical tape, the same kind f tape used to bind the victim,handwritten notes…
And a bloodied hammer.
A medical examiner determined Britney’s cause of death to be quote a homicide due to the blunt force trauma to the head.
Investigators also note a track on the floor leading from the inside the apartment right out front door.
Nine days later, Cedar Rapids police in collaboration with the Northen Iowa Fugitive Task Force and the US marshal’s Nevada Violentt Offender Task Force.Tracked down Donnie who fled to Las Vegas .
With Donnie in Custody,detectives go to work trying to get to the bottom of what exactly happened here.when they get a chance to talk to some of his family members.
One of the women describes the 52 year old murder suspect as crazy before detectives dig for more details.
Donnie had alegedly been a longtime drug abuser.
Detectives tracked down another one of Donnie’s family members who they say picked up the suspect at the airport after the murder.
The man describes Donnie’s alleged bizarre behavior that he says led to a hopsital stay.
Court records show he later accepted a deal and pleaded guilty to the lesser charges of second-degree murder as well as non-concensual termination of pregnancy.
The 51 year old was sentenced to up to 50 years in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years.