Emily WangThe arraignment of Joshua Lehman in the murder of Dr. Rylie-Shea Muhlbauer arrived quietly in a written filing in September 2026 — but for the 27-year-old chiropractor's family in Manning, Iowa, it reopened wounds that never had time to heal. Muhlbauer was found shot dead on August 2, 2026, at a residence on East Shore Drive in Lake View, Iowa, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Lehman, also 27, entered a not-guilty plea to first-degree murder — a Class A felony that carries mandatory life imprisonment without parole under Iowa law.
The criminal case now moves toward trial. But for families navigating this kind of loss, a critical legal question often goes unasked: what can you do beyond the criminal process, and what rights does the law preserve that the prosecution never explains?
The News: What the Muhlbauer Case Timeline Reveals
Sac County emergency dispatchers received the 911 call at 10:27 AM on August 2, 2026. Officers arrived at East Shore Drive in Lake View to find Muhlbauer deceased from a gunshot wound. Lehman was taken into custody the same day; Iowa's Division of Criminal Investigation formally charged him within 24 hours.
A community vigil in Manning drew hundreds of mourners days later, honoring a woman who had graduated from Morningside University, earned her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Cleveland University-Kansas City in December 2023, and was just beginning a professional career she had spent a decade pursuing.
In September 2026, Lehman's written not-guilty arraignment moved the case to its next stage. Court records confirm the two knew each other, though investigators have not disclosed the nature of their relationship or what triggered the shooting. Iowa abolished the death penalty in 1965; today, a conviction for first-degree murder results in life without parole — the harshest sentence Iowa law allows.
But the criminal verdict is only half of what justice can look like for families in this situation. The other half exists in civil court — and many families never learn about it until the two-year deadline to file has already passed.
Expert Analysis: The Civil Option Criminal Court Cannot Offer
"Most families don't know there are two completely separate legal systems at work when someone is killed," explains a wrongful death attorney familiar with Iowa litigation. "The criminal system holds the perpetrator accountable to the state. The civil system makes the victim's family as whole as money can. These are different goals, different standards of proof, and different outcomes — and families have the right to pursue both at the same time."
The civil concept at play is wrongful death, governed in Iowa by Iowa Code § 611.20. It allows the estate and surviving family members to sue the person responsible for a death when that death resulted from a wrongful act — including intentional violence.
Three fundamental differences between the two proceedings matter here.
The burden of proof. Criminal courts require proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" — a threshold legal scholars estimate at roughly 90-95% certainty. Civil courts require only a "preponderance of evidence," meaning more-likely-than-not, or about 51%. The O.J. Simpson cases are the most cited illustration: acquitted criminally in 1995, found civilly liable in 1997, with a $33.5 million judgment. Iowa wrongful death law follows the same logic.
Who controls the case. In criminal court, the prosecutor represents the state — not the family. The family has no say in plea negotiations, charging decisions, or trial strategy. In civil court, the family's own attorney represents the family's interests exclusively, and the family makes every key decision.
What can be recovered. A criminal conviction results in incarceration, which provides no financial support to the family. A civil judgment can include funeral expenses, medical bills incurred before death, the economic value of the victim's lost future earnings, loss of companionship and services, and in some circumstances punitive damages meant to punish especially egregious conduct.
For families whose loved one had just begun a career at 27, the economic calculation is significant — and the clock on filing begins the day of the death, not the day of the verdict.
The Civil Case in Practice: Iowa Code § 611.20 Explained
Iowa's wrongful death statute allows the victim's estate to bring suit on behalf of the family. Courts recognize several categories of recoverable damages.
Economic damages include the present-discounted value of the victim's expected lifetime earnings — what they would have earned from the time of death until retirement. For a licensed chiropractor in Iowa, median annual earnings range from $72,000 to $92,000, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics occupational data. A doctorate-level professional entering practice at 27 has roughly 38 working years ahead.
Non-economic damages include loss of companionship and consortium — the emotional and relational loss suffered by parents, siblings, and close family members. Iowa courts have awarded parents of adult children between $150,000 and $500,000 each for loss of companionship, depending on the closeness of the relationship.
Funeral and burial expenses are directly recoverable. Iowa average funeral costs in 2026 range from $10,000 to $18,000 for a full service with burial.
The statute of limitations is absolute. Iowa wrongful death claims must be filed within two years of the date of death. For a case where death occurred August 2, 2026, that window closes August 2, 2028. A criminal trial in Iowa routinely takes 18 to 30 months. Waiting for a verdict before consulting a civil attorney is a common — and costly — mistake.
For context on how families have navigated similar Iowa legal situations, see wrongful death in the USA: what families need to know and what families should know when a death investigation opens.
This article discusses legal concepts for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed Iowa attorney for advice specific to your situation.
Concrete Case: Running the Numbers for a 27-Year-Old Iowa Professional
Take this specific scenario, directly grounded in the facts of this case: a 27-year-old licensed chiropractor newly in practice, earning $80,000 per year, with 38 working years ahead and two grieving parents who relied on her presence and support.
Lost future earnings: $80,000 per year × 38 years = $3,040,000 in nominal future earnings. Applying a standard 3.5% actuarial discount rate to present value — the methodology used by Iowa economic experts in civil litigation — reduces this to approximately $1.7 million to $2.0 million in present-day compensation.
Parental loss of companionship: Iowa courts have awarded parents of adult children between $150,000 and $400,000 each for loss of companionship and services. With two parents, this adds $300,000 to $800,000 to the total claim.
Funeral and burial expenses: approximately $15,000, fully recoverable as a direct economic loss.
Realistic civil claim range: $2.0 million to $2.8 million.
If-then: If the Muhlbauer family files a wrongful death suit before August 2, 2028, and a civil jury finds Lehman liable by a preponderance of evidence — that is, more-likely-than-not, regardless of the criminal verdict — the family receives a money judgment. That judgment attaches to every asset Lehman ever acquires: wages, property, inheritance, or savings. It does not disappear. In Iowa, civil money judgments can be renewed and remain enforceable for 20 years, meaning future compensation is possible even if the defendant has no assets today. This is not a hypothetical windfall — it is the legal remedy Iowa's legislature designed specifically for families robbed of a loved one's presence and financial contribution through someone else's wrongful act.
What to Do If Your Family Is in This Situation
Whether in Sac County or anywhere in Iowa, families facing a similar loss should act on these steps immediately — not after the criminal trial concludes.
1. Consult a civil attorney now. The two-year statute of limitations runs from the date of death, not the date of conviction. A criminal trial may not conclude until 2027 or 2028. Waiting forfeits your right to file.
2. Document every expense from the day of death. Funeral costs, travel to court hearings, grief counseling, and wages lost by family members who took time away from work are all potentially recoverable damages. Save every receipt.
3. Understand that criminal and civil proceedings are independent. You can cooperate fully with the prosecutor's office while simultaneously pursuing a civil claim. The two tracks do not interfere with each other, and a civil attorney will not disrupt the criminal investigation.
4. Ask about contingency representation. Nearly all Iowa wrongful death attorneys handle these cases on contingency — no fees unless you recover. The standard contingency rate in Iowa wrongful death cases is approximately 33% of any recovery, meaning families with no financial resources are not excluded from legal representation.
5. Seek an expert consultation early. An experienced wrongful death attorney can assess whether a civil claim is viable, identify all potential defendants, and calculate a realistic damages estimate — often in a single consultation. ExpertZoom connects families with licensed Iowa lawyers who specialize in wrongful death litigation and offer initial assessments at no upfront cost.
The Muhlbauer case has reminded northwest Iowa of something no community wants to learn firsthand: violent loss leaves families not only grieving but legally exposed — carrying deadlines they don't know exist, for compensation they have every right to claim. Iowa law offers a parallel path to accountability. Taking it begins with a single phone call, made before that two-year clock runs out.
