Council Bluffs Man Sentenced To 20 Years For Manslaughter In Death Of Glenwood Woman

A Council Bluffs man will spend 20 years in prison for taking the life of a Glenwood woman who he claimed he looked up to as a mother figure.

Chad Fortner, 24, was sentenced in Mills County District Court Monday by Judge Kathleen Kilnoski.

Fortner was originally charged with second-degree murder in the October 2013 death of Carol Meston, 47, of Glenwood, but pleaded guilty to one count of voluntary manslaughter and two counts of willful injury causing bodily injury in a plea agreement reached last month with the Mills County Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 12, 2013, emergency responders were called to Meston’s Glenwood home where Fortner was also staying. It was initially reported that an alleged altercation had taken place between Fortner and a male acquaintance. Fortner said during the altercation, Meston was knocked to the ground where she hit her head on a piece of furniture and was rendered unconscious. Meston never regained consciousness and died of her injuries the next day.
In court documents filed with the plea agreement, Fortner admitted he and Meston were involved in an argument over some of his property she had given away. Fortner said he became angry and struck Meston multiple times before he pushed her, causing a fall.

Meston’s daughter, Samantha, made an emotion-filled statement at Monday’s sentencing, saying Fortner claimed Carol Meston “was the mother he always wanted,” yet he did something to her that no person would ever do to a family member.

“I just want justice for my mom and I don’t think he should be allowed to hurt anybody else,” Samantha Meston said.

In addition to the 20-year prison sentence, Fortner was ordered to pay Carol Meston’s family $150,000 in restitution. Fortner was also sentenced on four drug-related charges Monday. His punishment for those crimes will run concurrently with his sentence for manslaughter.