Opening arguments in an Ames murder case that occurred in 2021 are being heard this week by jurors in Story County.

34 year old Richard Fleck is charged with first degree murder in the death of his girlfriend, 37 year old Ranea Bell, at her Ames apartment in February of 2021. Fleck also faces additional charges of having possession of a firearm as a felon, trafficking in stolen weapons & third degree theft.

Jurors are trying to determine whether Bell’s killing was premeditated of self-defense. Ames Police conducted a welfare check on Bell after police in Kansas City, Missouri received a report of a man hiding in a trash bag in a drainpipe. Investigating officers said they found blood stained items inside the trash bag, some of which were identified as belonging to Bell. Authorities spent nearly a full month trying to locate Fleck before he was finally arrested by Des Moines Police who were investigating an assualt case from March of 2021.

Both sides in the case say the relationship between Fleck & Bell was oftentimes heated, which raises further questions about how Bell actually died.