State and local authorities are investigating the death of a woman after the O’Brien County Communication Center received a 911 call late Thursday afternoon about a deceased female.  When authorities arrived at the location, they found a deceased woman inside her home. The death is being treated as a homicide, and an autopsy has been scheduled for Saturday at the Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, in Ankeny.

Around 12:00pm Friday, authorities in South Dakota arrested 41-year-old Nathaniel Byron Kessel of Rock Rapids after locating him in Flandreau, South Dakota.  Kessel is charged with first degree murder and one count of a felon in possession of a firearm.

If you have any information regarding this investigation, you’re asked to call the Sheldon Police Department at 712-324-2525, or the DCI at 712- 224-7680.

This is an ongoing criminal investigation; no further details or names are being released at this time.