Man Charged In Murder Of 5 Family Members

(AP)  Shayne Bentler told the 911 dispatcher her brother was "going to do something." Next came the sound of a gunshot and someone yelling, "Shawn, no!"

Then the line went dead.

A day after 14-year-old Shayne and four other family members were gunned down in their southeastern Iowa home, 22-year-old Shawn Bentler was charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of his parents and three teenage sisters, according to the Van Buren County sheriff's office.

Bentler was being held on a $2.5 million bond at the Adams County jail in Quincy, Ill. At a hearing in Illinois, Bentler waived extradition, and will face trial in Iowa.

Investigators have not offered a motive for the slayings, said Jim Saunders, spokesman for the Iowa Department of Public Safety. "It's going to take them a while," he said.

The victims were found early Saturday near Bonaparte, according to the Van Buren County sheriff's office. They were identified as Michael Bentler, 53; his wife, Sandra, 47; and their daughters Sheena, 17; Shelby, 15; and Shayne.

The sheriff's office said it received the 911 call from Shayne Bentler at 3:38 a.m. Details of the call were included in sheriff's documents.

Authorities said they received a second 911 call at the same time from Sandra Bentler's cell phone. That call went unanswered.

Shawn Bentler was arrested Saturday in Quincy, Ill., about 60 miles from the family's home, on an unrelated charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the Adams County sheriff's office.

The Bentlers were an affluent family that owned an elevator and lumber company that served most of southeast Iowa.

On Sunday morning, a deputy stood guard at the street corner in front of the home, which sits on 20 acres on a sprawling tree-lined bluff just outside Bonaparte.

At the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Farmington, where the Bentler family worshipped, some parishioners wiped away tears as they knelt to pray, while others sat transfixed, their hands on their faces or clasped in prayer.

"You saw this in the Amish country when those girls were shot, and now it's in our backyard," youth minister Mike Linnenbrink said, referring to the shooting deaths of five girls at Amish school in Pennsylvania this month. "It's not surprising at all that we turn to church at this time. This is a tight community, not just in Van Buren County, but in all of southeast Iowa."

[josh34568]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps4v_BdtHuo

Sorry that is the link...I actually don't even know if it will let me post it here. But I think it shows respect to them, so it should be watched.

[josh34568]

Hey, I know family of the Bentlers; the Wilsons. My friend Ashley was so devastated when she heard her cousins and aunt and uncle were killed. I felt just as bad. I went to the visitation today and saw their bodies. It was very sad and I couldn't help but cry. Tomorrow is the funeral and I'm sure that will be just as sad. If you'd like to see a tribute video I made for them go to this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ps4v_BdtHuo

It's a video on YouTube showing my respect for the family. They will be missed.

[sparkeee35]

My heart goes out to the family & friends of this tragedy. May God give them the peace they will need to make it through all of this ordeal. No one knows for sure what happened...except for the person who did this...and he will have to live with what he did. My condolences to the remaining family & friends.

[wardparkway2]

A large number of people that post comments here (no matter what the subject) are posting from a perspective of ignorance, not because of whatever is or isn't written in the article. This society has a snap judgement based on a sound-bite... and it's an "I'm right, you're wrong" attitude.

I grew up in the region where this occurred, and my cube mate went to school with Mike Bentler. We may never know why Shawn did such a deplorable act... but other than removing him from society, judgement is between he and his maker.

May God pour his mercy, grace, forgiveness and understanding on all of us.

[emartine]

luvNY-Everyone is entitled to their opinions so I think people should voice them but there is no excuse for ignorance by stating things they know nothing about! Even if they were in a certain situation, that doesn%u2019t mean jump to a conclusion and think that is how the entire world it. Every family is different, if you think it wouldn%u2019t happen in your own family%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026%u2026think again. Just think if that was your cousin or daughter or aunt or uncle that this happened to the uselessness comments wouldn%u2019t make you happy either. Thanks for your concern.

[luvny-2009]

emartine - I am sorry you are upset with some of the comments, what you need to do is tell CBS NOT to add the section for comments. These people are voicing their opinions based on the article.

[sandlin_k]

My heart goes out to the family and they will all (including Shawn) be in my prayers. As outsiders, we cannot pass judgment on situations that we know nothing about. As Christians, we should just pray that God will comfort those who need comfort and let the authorities get to the bottom of this and let justice prevail. Second guessing only causes pain and regret, especially if your guess is wrong. God bless the family and friends and my He give you comfort.

[emartine]

First of all my heart and prayers go out to everyone in the family. As I am a part of this family as well.

Second of all I would like to let the ignorant people that are accusing the parents of molestation and abuse to get the facts straight before blabbing the first bad-mannered thought that comes into their head. Truly think about the circumstances and the FACTS and wait for the evidence before stating comments on a national and well known website that can be seen by family members in their time of mourning.

Do not jump to conclusions because of your childhood and upbringings by the lack of your parents love and think that is how 99% percent of familys are raised.

Also lets think about where your tax dollars are going: schools, your community, welfare, etc,and yes to put and keep people where they belong to keep you and your children safe. I do not like paying taxes either but a good percentage of that money is being used wisely. If you do not like where your money is going, VOTE, make a difference.

Could it be drugs? Thats for Shawn to know and live with for the rest of his life. Worry about your own family and children before pointing fingers and as well as you think you know them think again.

Please keep any uninformed comments to yourself as there are plenty of ignorant people in this world that do not need to be posting comments about something as tragic as this.

Please be sincere of the family and friends of this amazing family!

[ellenrouse]

It's a sad time in our world when families must live in fear of being murdered by their own children/siblings. Drugs... drugs... drugs... and violent television and video games whose objective is bloody violence and murder. We are reaping what we, as a society, have sown via acceptance.

[jetlizhan]

Ok, maybe drugs - but we as a nation always have to 'label' the cause of everything - haven't any of you ever heard of 'evil' - this young man has the devil in him, plain and simple. He'd better mend his way with our Maker - he's really gonna be in a rage when his *** is burning in hell.