Cops Piece Together Iowa Family Slayings

Embattled Bank Exec Apparently Kills Wife And 4 Kids, Then Self In Fiery Crash

(CBS/AP)  An embattled former bank executive committed suicide by crashing his van after killing his wife and making failed attempts to asphyxiate their four children in a garage, then slaying them individually, authorities said Tuesday.

Steven Sueppel, who had been charged with embezzlement, was missing after his family's bodies were discovered Monday morning. His van was found wrecked and ablaze on Interstate 80 about nine miles away, and police said they used dental records to identify the burned body inside as Sueppel's.

In a news conference Tuesday, investigators said they believe he killed his wife, then tried to kill himself and his children by asphyxiating them with carbon monoxide in the garage. When that failed, he killed the children one by one in the house.

Investigators think the children died by "blunt force trauma," though autopsies are not complete, Lt. Jim Steffen said. Two baseball bats might have been used and were being examined, he said.

"Steven is probably the only one who knew why he did what he did, and I don't know that we're ever going to be able to determine the real reason why this happened," Steffen said.

After the children died, Sueppel tried to drown himself in the Iowa River without success. He then made a 911 call directing officers to his home and a few minutes later crashed into a freeway abutment.

Sueppel left a long note in the family's kitchen addressed to no one in particular. He also left voice mail messages at the family's home, at the bank where he once worked and at the law office of his father and brother.

One of the messages indicated Sueppel believed his family was in heaven, Steffen said.

"He did indicate in his note that ever since his problems came to light that he was having trouble dealing with this issue, but again no specific incident or cause was identified as to why it happened now," Steffen said. "He apologized ... numerous times."

Police identified the children as Ethan, 10; Seth, 8; Mira, 5; and Eleanor, 3.

Their bodies were found throughout the home. Two were in upstairs bedrooms, one in a basement bedroom and another in a basement toy room. Sheryl Sueppel's body was found in the master bedroom.

The 911 call made early Monday alerting police to the family's home at the edge of Iowa City was made from Sueppel's cell phone, police said.

About six minutes after Sueppel's call, more 911 calls poured in to dispatchers, reporting that a minivan had crashed into a concrete abutment in the median of Interstate 80 east of town.

One caller sobbed as she described seeing the burning minivan, which had crashed head-on into the abutment.

"Oh, my God, the car's on fire," the woman sobs. "I was going to stop and help but the car's on fire."

Court records show that Steven Sueppel, 42, was indicted last month on charges of stealing about $560,000 from Hills Bank and Trust in Johnson County, where he was vice president and controller.

Sueppel pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering in U.S. District Court and was released on a $250,000 personal bond.

"When [Sueppel] … was questioned about the discrepancies," the indictment states, according to the Chicago Tribune, "he admitted to bank officials that he was responsible for taking over $219,000 over a three-year period. Steven Francis Sueppel told bank officials that he used most of the monies for cocaine purchases."

The government was also seeking the forfeiture of the money he was accused of stealing.

His trial was scheduled for April 21.

[missut2]

missut2,

Either three things are possible (both parents are Caucasian and these kids clearly look Asian):

1. These kids are adopted.
2. They belong to one but not the other.
3. Some strong gene from the past has taken over.

I predict #1.

--------------------------------------------------

Posted by whatithink at 04:48 AM : Mar 26, 2008

I disagree....the father clearly looks Asian, as do the children; the mom looks caucasian. I have found no reference to the children being adopted...it has been an assumption by a poster...I was only making an observation. I immediately noticed that the father was Asian. In the end, it doesn''t really matter. The whole famiy is gone...

[newsterl]

"One of the messages indicated Sueppel believed his family was in heaven, Steffen said. "

Another right wing fanatic who sent his family to ''heaven''

"He did indicate in his note that ever since his problems came to light that he was having trouble dealing with this issue, but again no specific incident or cause was identified as to why it happened now,"

Are they kidding? no specific incident or cause?
geezus, they answered their own investigation with THIS, yet they dont see it;

"... was indicted last month on charges of stealing about $560,000 from Hills Bank and Trust.."

"... to embezzlement and money laundering in U.S. District Court and was released on a $250,000 personal bond. "

Id say gee, that sure looks like the CAUSE!

[marymcq]

MegamanX1, only an idiot like you would make a racial slur in the face of tragedy, look at the prisons, the majority are black, I''m no racist, you are, you threw this card out, the fact is there is more black on black crime than any other in this nation, so before you start your racist remarks, read facts, or can you read? You sound like an idiot, and just so you know, I''m white, I''m married to a black man, I have biracial children and grandchildren, you sir are a stupid black man, you make the rest of the good black community look stupid. I know there are alot of sickos in this world, they come in all colors, try some tolerance, everyone has to do their part. When are YOU going to start to do your part.

[megamanx1-2009]

So where are all the white supremacists who were here after bobby cutts trail saying that black people commit at the crimes in this nation....This WHITE guy took out his wife and FOUR kids. So, where are you at?? nowhere to be found? yeah that''s what I thought.

[gunownerdan]

"Five shooting victims, four children and one woman, were found in this house in Iowa City..."

"Investigators think the children died by "blunt force trauma," though autopsies are not complete, Lt. Jim Steffen said. Two baseball bats might have been used and were being examined, he said."

CBS, your anti-gun agenda is way too obvious!

[sumarongi]

Ralan 40 wrote:

Now that we''''ve conquered disease and starvation, all we have left to struggle against is ourselves.

You haven''t been down to the other side of the tracks recently. We defeated disease and starvation in your neighborhood, but economic slavery and starvation are very much alive and well there.

Minimum wage 40 hr week = $290.00 lower in areas Taxes/S.S./Medicaid, etc. -42.00
1 20 gal. tank of gas -65.00
Rent/Mort cheap place -125.00
Basic utilities -55.00
Food/subsistence/1person -40.00
Total -37.00
These figures are estimates and depending on geographical location is low. At these figures, people are going to be starving and/or homeless soon. Millions of people can%u2019t make ends meet. Even those who don''t own a car and use the bus. These low-income workers are the ones who are working to make your business succeed. When CEO''s, lawyers, doctors, and other people are complaining about hardships on their five and six figure incomes, There are millions of people who can%u2019t afford to survive, much less obtain health care, or afford to eat out or see a movie, or afford TV, or buy a book, or give a child lunch money. Prices continue to rise across the board. The greed of people will blow the economy of the U.S. from the bottom up. Wonder why people are frustrated/desperate enough to pick up a gun or knife in order to try to survive? They are watching their hopes/dreams disappear into your pockets.

[slim1h2o]

Posted by janiet3 at 10:42 AM : Mar 26, 2008

You''re welcome, and in the words of Jimmy V,,,don''t ever give up!!

We need more people in this country like you, Poets, Philosophers, are all welcome to the usual crowd, of nay sayres

[hawksprings]

Actually, the TRUTH of this story is that it was Hillary who pieced together the events for the cops.

That''s Hillary''s recollection.

[janiet3]

Thank you so much, Slim. Nothing, but nothing, could please me more than to think I have sparked an interest in turning things around just a bit and caused somebody who might contemplate doing what is ultimately the "wrong" (and there is still a wrong and a right in most instances) thing, then my living shall not have been in vain.

[slim1h2o]

And, oh by the way, I still dare to dream.

Posted by janiet3 at 10:21 AM : Mar 26, 2008

Pretty deep,,,, Good post!