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CEDAR RAPIDS — Dakota Van Patten, in a police interview, denied several times that he didn’t know anything about and wasn’t involved in the kidnapping and strangling of 20 year-old Melody Hoffman on Feb. 17 and 18, 2024.

He even denied being present with his friend, McKinley Louisma, already convicted in the case, when it happened, which is his defense .

The prosecution rested after a video recording of a police interview was played for jurors Wednesday. Van Patten, 19, of Cedar Rapids, then waived his right to testify, which isn’t uncommon, and the defense rested without calling any witnesses.

Closing arguments are set for 9 a.m. Thursday and the jury will start deliberations by early aft

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