Iowa man sentenced for beating his girlfriend to death in 'particularly gruesome' case

DES MOINES, Iowa (TCN) -- A 61-year-old man will spend the rest of his life behind bars for beating his girlfriend with a wooden board, as well as punching and kicking her, causing her death.

The Polk County Attorney's Office announced Aug. 20 that Derrick Earnest received a sentence of life in prison without parole. Earnest will also have to pay $150,000 in restitution. A jury previously convicted him in May of first-degree murder for fatally beating his girlfriend, Holly Snowgren.

According to prosecutors, in April 2024, the defendant got into an argument with Snowgren and beat her with a wooden board and punched and kicked her. Surveillance cameras reportedly captured Earnest threatening to kill her, and Snowgren said "Derrick" and "pleaded for him to stop."

Earnest brought his girlfriend to the emergency room around 40 minutes after the attack at 2:42 a.m. on April 19, 2024. The attorney's office said Snowgren sustained broken ribs, lacerations, and a stab wound, as well as other injuries, and she was pronounced deceased that morning. Authorities arrested Earnest later that day.

The victim leaves behind a son, stepdaughter, two grandchildren, her parents, and other siblings and relatives.

District Judge Paul Scott called the case "particularly gruesome" and told Earnest, "You must live with the fact that you took the life of another human being."

The victim's mother and two sisters made impact statements in court and said Snowgren was a "'beautiful soul' who 'enjoyed being the life of the party' and was always supportive of friends."

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