Davenport Man Sentenced to 29 Years in Prison for Fatal Crash into Mississippi River in Muscatine County, Iowa

MUSCATINE Co., Iowa – A recent court hearing in Muscatine County, Iowa, has resulted in the sentencing of a 38-year-old Davenport man, Joshua Scott Peters, to 29 years in prison. Peters was found guilty of homicide by vehicle, operating a vehicle without owner’s consent, and driving while barred, following a fatal crash into the Mississippi River. The incident, which occurred on April 21, 2022, tragically claimed the life of 71-year-old William Talbot, also from Davenport.

The Verdict and Sentencing

After a bench trial in October, the judge found Joshua Scott Peters guilty of homicide by vehicle, a Class B felony in the state of Iowa. Peters was also convicted of operating a vehicle without owner’s consent and driving while barred, both aggravated misdemeanors. However, he was found not guilty of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death.

During the sentencing hearing, the judge ordered Peters to pay $150,000 in restitution to the family of William Talbot, the victim of the fatal crash.

Details of the Incident

According to arrest affidavits filed in Muscatine County District Court, the incident took place in the early hours of April 21, 2022. Deputies were dispatched to the Fairport Rec Area on Highway 22 in response to a report of a missing person and a stolen vehicle.

It was reported that a blue 2016 Chevrolet Equinox had been stolen from the campground, with William Talbot, who was handicapped, inside the vehicle at the time of the theft. Talbot’s wife and daughter informed the deputies that the vehicle was stolen while they were setting up their tent and their husband/father was still inside.

Prior to this incident, deputies had responded to the same location for a disturbance but were unable to locate anyone involved. However, after the theft, deputies were dispatched to the 1900 block of Tombstone Trail, where a man had arrived at a residence. This man, later identified as Joshua Scott Peters, was found soaking wet and behaving strangely. Peters claimed to have been involved in a car crash and was attempting to get a ride to Davenport.

The homeowners held Peters at gunpoint until the deputies arrived at the scene. During the subsequent investigation, it was revealed that Peters, Talbot, and Talbot’s family had arrived at the campground around 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 20, 2022. Peters had consumed methamphetamine at the campground around 9 p.m., and an altercation reportedly occurred between Peters and several unidentified individuals around 11 p.m.

Witnesses reported that Peters got into the driver’s seat of the stolen vehicle and left the area with Talbot in the passenger seat. Despite Talbot’s attempts to exit the vehicle, he was unable to do so. Peters drove erratically, swerving, braking, and accelerating aggressively. Eventually, Peters lost control of the vehicle, veering off the road into the south ditch in the 3800 block of Highway 22.

After hitting a road sign, Peters continued driving approximately 255 feet before reaching Tombstone Trail, where he turned south and drove the vehicle into the Mississippi River. As the vehicle submerged, Peters managed to escape, leaving Talbot trapped inside. The vehicle, with Talbot’s lifeless body inside, was discovered later that Friday morning.

Impairment and Methamphetamine Use

During the investigation, Peters displayed signs of impairment and admitted to using methamphetamine the night before the incident. He failed a standardized field sobriety test, as stated in the affidavit.

Conclusion

With the recent sentencing of Joshua Scott Peters to 29 years in prison for his involvement in the fatal crash that claimed the life of William Talbot, justice has been served. The court’s decision reflects the severity of Peters’ actions and the devastating consequences they had on Talbot’s family and the community. May this serve as a reminder of the importance of responsible driving and the dangers of impaired and reckless behaviors behind the wheel.