DES MOINES, IA – Two individuals from Iowa have been handed lengthy prison terms after investigators found they kidnapped a woman, attempted to kill her, and subjected her to a violent assault in an effort to thwart a domestic abuse case.
Jordan Blake Mangum, 42, was sentenced on Friday to a maximum of 45 years in prison, with a requirement to serve more than 22 years before being eligible for parole. His accomplice, 36-year-old Jessica Ann Marie Wheeler, received a 35-year sentence and must serve at least 17 years behind bars before qualifying for parole consideration.
Mangum chose an Alford plea to charges including attempted murder, third-degree kidnapping, assault with a dangerous weapon, and domestic abuse. The plea means he did not admit guilt but acknowledged sufficient evidence could convict him. Wheeler entered a guilty plea to charges of attempted murder and kidnapping.
The attack occurred on December 2, 2023. Prosecutors detailed how Mangum and Wheeler went to the Des Moines residence of Luna Cox, Mangum’s former partner. There, they restrained her with duct tape and forced her into a minivan before taking her to Mangum’s home. The pair subsequently drove Cox to a different location, where they attempted to strangle her, inflicted a knife wound to her throat, and ran her over multiple times with the vehicle.
Despite the intensity of the assault, Cox pleaded for her life. Eventually, Mangum dropped her off at a hospital, which allowed for her survival and recovery.
Authorities revealed that Mangum’s motive revolved around preventing Cox—a former partner—from pursuing a previous domestic abuse case. Just two weeks prior to the kidnapping and assault, Mangum had been arrested over allegations of attacking Cox. Prosecutors said that on the day before the kidnapping, Mangum and Wheeler had pressured Cox to drop the pending charges. When she refused, the violence escalated dramatically.
During the sentencing, Cox addressed the court, recounting years of abuse at Mangum’s hands and describing the violence as controlling behavior disguised as love. She spoke about her ongoing healing, emphasizing the challenges of recovery and the steps she’s taking toward rebuilding her life with dignity and hope. Cox indicated the process has not been easy, but therapy and support have been key components in her journey.
Mangum offered an apology in court, though he admitted struggling to find the right words to express his remorse. The presiding judge, Joseph Seidlin, underscored the severity of Mangum’s actions, saying Mangum had kidnapped, assaulted, and tried to murder the mother of his child.
Wheeler, for her part, attempted to deflect responsibility, claiming she was threatened by Mangum and believed their discussions about kidnapping Cox were made in jest. However, the judge rejected this explanation, emphasizing that Wheeler had multiple opportunities to intervene but failed to do so.
Cox, who is now raising her six-year-old son with Mangum while balancing work in retail and attending school for accounting, told the court she is committed to defining her life on her own terms and not letting her traumatic experience define her future.
The two defendants remain incarcerated at separate correctional facilities, while Cox continues to focus on her recovery and the well-being of her family.