Iowa City Sueppel Murders

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{The Iowa City Sueppel Murders were a series of murders that occurred at the house of Steven and Sheryl Sueppel in Iowa City, Iowa on Easter Sunday, March 23, 2008. Sheryl Sueppel and her four adopted children; Ethan, 10; Seth, 9; Mira, 5 and Eleanor, 3 were found murdered in their home around 6:45 on Monday, March 24. The police were directed to the home by an anonymous 911 call which was later confirmed to be Steven Sueppel, Sheryl's husband. Steven is believed to have murdered his family using baseball bats to bludgeon them.

Steven Sueppel was previously accused of embezzling nearly $600,000 from Hills Bank and Trust Company of Iowa City where he was a Vice President. He was charged with stealing $559,040 from the bank over a period of several years, but pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering on February 20, 2008^[1]. He was out on bond at the time of the murders with a trial date set for April. In a four-page note written by Steven he indicated that he and his family would be better off this way instead of enduring further pressures caused by the charges against him. Steven committed suicide by crashing into a concrete support on Interstate 80 shortly after placing the call to 911.

[edit] Timeline of Murders

Sunday am: The Sueppel family attends Easter mass at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City. Steven's and Sheryl's parents were also at the mass and said they did not notice anything unusual with anyone's behavior.

Sunday 8 pm: A family friend stops at the Sueppel's home and visits with Steven. The friend saw one of the children but noted nothing unusual.

Sunday 11:30 pm: Steven Sueppel leaves a message for his father and brother at their law firm. In the message he states that his family is in heaven. It is believed that his wife had been killed by this point although the children were likely still alive.

Sunday 11:30 pm - Monday 3:45 am: At some point, according to a letter Steven wrote, Sueppel gathered his four children into the family van which was parked in the garage and tried to kill the children and himself by carbon monoxide poisoning. When this didn't work Steven ushered the kids back into the house and bludgeoned them to death. The three oldest children were found in their bedrooms. Eleanor, the youngest was found downstairs in the toy room.

Monday 3:45 am: Steven leaves a message at the office of his former employer, Hills Bank. Details of this message have not been released.

Monday 3:50 am: Steven leaves a message on his home answering machine expressing his regret.

Monday 4:01 am: Sueppel leaves a second message on his home answering machine. In the message Sueppel indicates that he tried to drown himself in the Iowa River at Lower City Park but he "kept floating"

Monday 6:31 am: 911 dispatchers received a call directing them to the home of Steven and Sheryl Sueppel and telling them to "respond immediately". The call came from a cellphone and the caller immediately disconnected without identifying himself.

911 Transcript:
Dispatch: This is 9-1-1. Location of your emergency? Hello?
Caller: Am I talking to Iowa City?
Dispatch: No this is... Where, what is the location of your emergency?
Caller: Iowa City, Iowa.
Dispatch: What's the address?
Caller: 629 Barrington Road. Please go there immediately.
Dispatch: What's going on there?
Caller hangs up.

Monday 6:36 am: Sueppel dies in a fiery crash on Interstate 80, outside Iowa City. Witnesses indicate that the driver was driving at high speeds and seemed to have deliberately crashed into a concrete pillar.