HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA — The first-degree murder trial of Joseph Jack Langford III has been postponed until April 20, 2027, according to a scheduling order filed September 18 in Harrison County District Court.Langford faces charges of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.
His jury trial was previously scheduled for October 20, 2026.Senior Judge Jeffrey L. Larson signed the continuance order, setting a new pretrial conference for March 8, 2027, at 1:30 p.m., followed by jury trial on April 20 at 9:30 a.m. Both proceedings are scheduled at the Harrison County Courthouse in Logan.
Witness Subpoenas Filed
Court records also show that the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office served criminal witness subpoenas on two individuals in August. One of those witnesses, Corby Riesland, was served on August 20, 2026, at a residential correctional facility in Council Bluffs.
Residential correctional facilities, commonly known as halfway houses, provide supervised housing for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, including those on probation, parole, or work release.The court filing does not specify why Riesland was at the facility.
A second witness, Brad Ceder, was served on August 31, 2026, at a residential address in Council Bluffs.The filings confirm that both individuals received subpoenas but do not disclose the anticipated substance of their testimony or their connection to the allegations.
Speedy Trial Rights Waived
The scheduling order also indicates that Langford’s speedy trial rights have been waived. The order does not specify the reason for the continuance.Langford is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
Missouri Valley Voices will continue monitoring developments in this case.
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