Cedar Rapids man sentenced to 20 years for cab driver fatal robbery

Story by Trish Mehaffey, The Gazette
Jan. 23, 2023

(Gazette File Photo) Johnathan Mitchell listens to testimony Monday, Oct. 14, 2013, during his trial for the murder of Cathy Stickley at the Story County Court House in Nevada.

CEDAR RAPIDS — The family of a cabdriver who was brutally stabbed 10 times after being robbed by her fare has waited more than 11 years to see justice, find peace and start healing.

Johnathan Mitchell, 44, of Cedar Rapids, pleaded guilty in August to robbery affecting commerce just before testimony was to begin in his federal trial. The case had been pending because Mitchell had been found incompetent to stand trial off and on since 2016.

Mitchell refused to take antipsychotic medications prescribed by prison doctors. A judge finally ordered him to take the medications to remain competent.

Mitchell was sentenced Monday, Jan. 23, 2023 in U.S. District Court to the maximum term of 20 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Leonard Strand found Mitchell premeditated and intentionally killed cabdriver and mother Catherine Ann Boyle Stickley, 54, of Cedar Rapids, and robbed her to buy crack cocaine April 29, 2011.

Full Story at The Gazette

We Remember … Upcoming Anniversaries

We remember cold case anniversaries and birthdays the victims would have celebrated.

Cecil Travis Gaddy
19 YOA
315 E. Shaw St.
Osceola, IA
Clarke County
January 31, 2004

Timothy C. Earney
29 YOA
Albia, IA
Monroe County
Case # 84-00561
February 2, 1984

Guy Heckle
Age at Report: 11
Reported Missing to:
Linn County SO
Endangered/physical
February 3, 1973

Norma M. Maynard
Age at Report: 61
Missing From:
Boone, IA
Case # 9002361
February 3, 1979

William Douglas, Sr.
Age at Report: 63
Endangered/physical
Clarke County, IA
Case # 04-01918
February 4, 2004

Louis Chambers, Jr.
32 YOA
1400 Blk 5th Ave SE
Cedar Rapids, IA
Linn County
February 7, 1994

Francis J. Rafferty
58 YOA
Dubuque, IA
Dubuque County
Case # 64-00326
February 8, 1964

Alfred W. Allen
73 YOA
200 blk of Warren
Scott County
Davenport, IA
February 8, 1988

Dennison Stookesberry
56 YOA
Reported Missing to:
Wapello County SO
Last Seen Alive:
February 8, 1999

Gene W. Williamson
23 YOA
1311 21st Street
Des Moines, IA
Case # 1979-5278
February 9, 1979

John S. Conaway
Age at Report: 36
Missing From:
Council Bluffs, IA
Case # 98-008374
February 9, 1998

Benjamin Roseland
Age at Report: 19
Missing From:
Clinton, IA
Case # CL08000580
February 9, 2008