Arraignment date set for man accused of murdering wife JoEllen Browning

The arraignment date for Roy Browning, the man accused of murdering his wife, JoEllen Browning, has been set. The couple’s daughter was also listed as a witness in the case, according to court documents.

Photo of Roy C. Browning contributed by the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office.

Kayli Reese, Managing News Editor
November 12, 2019

The arraignment date for Roy Browning, the man charged with the first-degree murder of his wife and former University of Iowa Health Care budget official JoEllen Browning, has been set for 2 p.m. on Nov. 22.

According to court documents, Browning has the option of filing a written arraignment and submitting it electronically.

Court documents also show that Browning’s daughter, Elizabeth Browning Adrianse, may be a witness in the case.

JoEllen Browning was found dead April 5 in her home at 114 Green Mountain Drive after Roy Browning called 911. Autopsy results released April 10 show that she died of sharp-force injuries. Browning was arrested for her murder on Oct. 28.

As previously reported by The Daily Iowan, JoEllen Browning had questioned her husband about discrepancies in their financial records in the days leading up to her death. While JoEllen Browning had a retirement fund and life-insurance policy of over $2 million, documents show, Roy Browning did not have a source of income.

JoEllen Browning had set up a meeting between herself, her husband, and their financial institution, which Roy Browning acknowledged. A representative from that financial institution was prepared to share at the meeting that one of the couple’s savings accounts was nearly empty and that Roy Browning took out loans with high interests rates without his wife’s knowledge.

Court documents also report that Roy Browning purchased rubber-palmed nitrile gloves and a package of six white towels before his wife’s death, and was also given eight-10 latex gloves for free.