Authorities are investigating a homicide in Neola, the first that anyone there can remember.

Rumors are making the investigation more complicated than it needs to be. Pottawattamie County investigators have been chasing those rumors down in an effort to sort through what really happened.

What is not in dispute is that 40-year-old Craig Larsen died. Authorities say that 20-year-old Todd Martens is responsible. Most details beyond that are in dispute.

Sheriff Jeff Danker says, "We want to make sure we've got all of the details nailed down here and we've been interviewing, investigators have been out all morning interviewing people trying to make sure that we do have the facts straight."

People in Neola are talking. Most tell us they were surprised to learn of the murder investigation, but say they're not surprised it centers on the Martens home.

Larsen and Martens knew each other and one of the stories circulating in Neola says that one owed the other money.

Martens' family tells investigators that Larsen charged into the house with a baseball bat, and Todd Martens was defending himself but deputies still booked Martens for Second Degree Murder.

Sheriff Danker says, "From what we knew from what the interviews that we did we felt that was the appropriate charge at that time. Now, if we find something different we want to make sure we get to the truth no matter what it is."

Sheriff Danker says the charge could change or be dropped depending on what investigators uncover.