Police: Family suffered blunt-force trauma, Steven Sueppel probably the killer
He attempted suicide twice before crashing his family's minivan on I-80, officials said
By Kurtis Hiatt - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 3/25/08 Section: Latest News
Sheryl Sueppel and her four children suffered blunt-force trauma, and husband and father Steven Sueppel is probably their killer, officials said Tuesday at a press conference.
Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine said authorities' investigation "suggests Steven Sueppel was the perpetrator of the homicide." He was identified as the person who called to report the family's deaths around 6:30 a.m. March 24.
Officials also said two baseball bats may have been involved.
Still, authorities do not have a cause of death for any of the Sueppels, pending autopsies being performed Tuesday.
Steven Sueppel tried to kill himself at least twice before authorities found the bodies of his family at their residence, 629 Barrington Road at 6:45 a.m. March 24 - once in a vehicle in the family's garage where the children were present and another time in the Iowa River in Lower City Park, police also said Tuesday.
He eventually intentionally crashed the family's minivan on I-80 near West Branch, killing himself, Hargadine said.
Steven Sueppel reportedly left a multiple-page, handwritten note on a kitchen table at the family's home, and also left voicemail messages at his home, Hills Bank, and at his father and brother's office at Meardon Sueppel & Downer, an Iowa City law firm.
Officials said Steven Sueppel apologized in his messages, and voiced a feeling of despair because of his embezzlement and money laundering charges, which he was set to stand trial for April 21, police said.
Iowa City Police Chief Sam Hargadine said authorities' investigation "suggests Steven Sueppel was the perpetrator of the homicide." He was identified as the person who called to report the family's deaths around 6:30 a.m. March 24.
Officials also said two baseball bats may have been involved.
Still, authorities do not have a cause of death for any of the Sueppels, pending autopsies being performed Tuesday.
Steven Sueppel tried to kill himself at least twice before authorities found the bodies of his family at their residence, 629 Barrington Road at 6:45 a.m. March 24 - once in a vehicle in the family's garage where the children were present and another time in the Iowa River in Lower City Park, police also said Tuesday.
He eventually intentionally crashed the family's minivan on I-80 near West Branch, killing himself, Hargadine said.
Steven Sueppel reportedly left a multiple-page, handwritten note on a kitchen table at the family's home, and also left voicemail messages at his home, Hills Bank, and at his father and brother's office at Meardon Sueppel & Downer, an Iowa City law firm.
Officials said Steven Sueppel apologized in his messages, and voiced a feeling of despair because of his embezzlement and money laundering charges, which he was set to stand trial for April 21, police said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 6
nick
posted 3/25/08 @ 7:48 PM CST
another evil white guy
religious too,
aetheists are nicer people!
Steven Weinberg
posted 3/25/08 @ 8:29 PM CST
With or without religion, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things.
But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion. (Continued…)
May
posted 3/26/08 @ 6:13 AM CST
What was the family thinking? Steven Sueppel was a self-admitted coke addict and thief! How could they just sit around and act like everything was ok - they should have demanded he get into treatment and get some obviously needed help. (Continued…)
Jeff
posted 3/27/08 @ 12:30 PM CST
Pure White Trash!
May he burn in Hell!
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