By David Lohr

February 26, 2007

advertisement

KEOSAUQUA,  Iowa (Crime Library) — A uthorities have released new details in the Bentler family murder investigation.  Last week, investigators filed search warrants with the Van Buren County District Court.  Included with those warrants was a list of items that investigators seized from the Bentler family home.

According to court documents, authorities seized a safe and its contents; cell phones belonging to Sheena, Sandra, and Shawn Bentler; bullet fragments; sheets from Sheena Bentler's bed; a bloody telephone; a .22-caliber rifle and boxes of ammunition found inside the house; a .22-caliber rifle found in a ditch outside the house; a cast of a tire impressions found outside; and fingerprints from inside the house.

On October 14, 2006, the Van Buren County Sheriff's Department received an emergency 911 call at 3:38 a.m. from the Bentler residence at 23894 Hawk Drive.  The caller, who identified herself as 14-year-old Shayne Bentler, told the dispatcher that her brother "was going to do something."  She also said her mother was yelling, "No, Shawn, don't do it." 

The dispatcher then heard a loud noise in the background, consistent with a gun discharging.  Moments later, the caller screamed, "Shawn, no!" and the line went dead.

The sheriff's deputies arrived approximately 15 minutes later and discovered the bodies of Michael J. Bentler, 53; his wife, Sandra, 47; and their three daughters - Sheena, 17, Shelby, 15, and Shayne, 14.

The following morning, Shawn Bentler was arrested at his apartment in Illinois on unrelated drug charges.  He was later charged with five counts of first-degree murder and was extradited back to Iowa.

Last month, District Court Judge Michael R. Mullins granted Bentler's request to waive his right to a jury trial.  Instead of having a jury decide his fate, he placed it in the hands of Judge Mullins, who has been assigned to handle all aspects of the case. 

Next Page

A Judge Will Determine Shawn Bentler's Fate

Contact  David Lohr at           pa_crime_writer@velocity.net

For more daily crime news