Man caught with dying girlfriend’s blood on his hands to be sentenced

A Des Moines man found with his dying girlfriend's blood on his hands will be sentenced to life in prison. Nickolas Pettinger, 33, was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say Pettinger choked and used a 20-pound weight to batter 19-year-old Katelynn "Kat" Gould on Dec. 12, 2016, in a Des Moines garage.Prosecutors say Gould's blood was on Pettinger's hands and clothes when he was taken into custody after hiding in a nearby garage for more than 90 minutes.Prosecutor Thomas Miller told jurors Pettinger was "caught red-handed in every sense of the word."Friends claim murder victim was abused by boyfriendFriends remember victim in homicide investigation

A Des Moines man found with his dying girlfriend's blood on his hands will be sentenced to life in prison.


Nickolas Pettinger, 33, was convicted earlier this year of first-degree murder.

Prosecutors say Pettinger choked and used a 20-pound weight to batter 19-year-old Katelynn "Kat" Gould on Dec. 12, 2016, in a Des Moines garage.

Prosecutors say Gould's blood was on Pettinger's hands and clothes when he was taken into custody after hiding in a nearby garage for more than 90 minutes.

Prosecutor Thomas Miller told jurors Pettinger was "caught red-handed in every sense of the word."

Friends claim murder victim was abused by boyfriend

Friends remember victim in homicide investigation