By David Lohr

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Because the location was secluded, it took Sheriff's Deputy Rob Caviness and two other deputies approximately 15 minutes to find the Bentler residence.  Once inside they discovered a horrific scene.  Bullet casings littered the floor and multiple victims were scattered throughout the house.  Deputy Brad Hudson knew the family well and was able to identify the bodies.  The victims were Michael J. Bentler, 53, his wife, Sandra, 47, and their three daughters — Sheena, 17, Shelby, 15, and Shayne, 14.  It was soon revealed that another member of the Bentler family, 22-year-old Shawn, was nowhere to be found.  That along with the 911 call made Shawn the number one suspect in the murders.

As daylight broke, investigators learned Shawn had been staying with a roommate in Quincy, Ill.  Details are still sketchy, however it has been reported that authorities in Illinois picked him up Saturday on unrelated drug charges.  He has now been charged with the murders and is being held on $2.5 million bond.

As police and the community come to grips with this tragedy, the biggest question is why this happened?  Michael Bentler was the owner of Mount Hamill Elevator & Lumber and his wife, Sandy, was a stay-at-home mom.  All three girls were students at Harmony High School and were members, along with their parents, of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Farmington.  They seem to have gotten along with everyone in the community and their neighbors have nothing but good things to say about them.   The girls' classmates at Harmony High School were especially shocked.

In an interview with The Des Moines Register, Linette Peck, 17, a friend of Sheena's, remembered her friend as outgoing and enthusiastic.  "She was really fun," Peck said.  "She was pretty popular all throughout school.  She was beautiful, athletic and just really outgoing."  Peck also knew Sheena's parents.  "Her mom and dad always came to the sports stuff," she said. "She was pretty close with her mom."  

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Contact  David Lohr at           pa_crime_writer@velocity.net

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