Rock Valley Woman Pleads Guilty To Murder

The Rock Valley woman accused of killing a nursing home resident under her care has pleaded guilty to reduced charges. Twenty-seven year old Christie Van Oort pleaded guilty today to charges of second degree murder in Sioux County District Court. Van Oort was originally charged with 1st degree murder in the April 16, 2002 death of retired farmer Dick Post. Post was a resident of the Valley Manor Nursing Home in Rock Valley. Van Oort was a care-taker at the facility at the time of his death. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be asphyxiation. Second degree murder is a class “B” felony that caries a mandatory 50-year prison sentence. She will be eligible for parole consideration after 35 years. Van Oort remains in the custody of the Sioux County Sheriff at the O’Brien County Jail.