The victim of an Ames homicide has been identified as 32-year-old Maria L. Hanian of Des Moines. On Thursday, Aug. 19, the Ames Police Department conducted a welfare check at an apartment complex on Mortensen Road at around 6:10 p.m. Upon entering the apartment, they found the deceased female and they determined the death was the result of a homicide. The suspect, 26-year-old Oscar Chavez of Ames was apprehended near Auburn by the Sac County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 11:55 p.m. that night. He has been charged with first-degree murder, a class A felony. He is currently being held in the Story County jail.
