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Metropolis Reality Forums Ť Son suspected as 5 in Iowa family slain ť

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   Son suspected as 5 in Iowa family slain

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Topic: Son suspected as 5 in Iowa family slain (Read 234 times)

Julia
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Son suspected as 5 in Iowa family slain
« on: Oct 14^th, 2006, 10:24pm »

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By JAMES BELTRAN, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 35 minutes ago

Three high school girls and their parents were found dead Saturday morning at their home in eastern Iowa, and the couple's son was arrested in Illinois and considered a suspect, officials said.

The victims were found shot at about 4 a.m. near Bonaparte, according to the Van Buren County sheriff's office. It was not immediately clear what prompted the slayings.

Shawn Bentler, 22, was arrested Saturday in Quincy, Ill., on an unrelated charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, the Van Buren County sheriff's office said. The Iowa Department of Public Safety said he is a suspect in the slayings.

Quincy is about 57 miles southeast of the family's home.

Parents Michael Bentler, 53, and Sandra Bentler, 47, were found dead with their daughters Sheena Bentler, 17, Shelby Bentler, 15, and Shayne Bentler, 14, Van Buren County authorities said.

The Harmony school district confirmed three of its female high school students a freshman, sophomore and senior and their parents were killed.

The slayings shocked residents of this eastern Iowa town, located about 145 miles southeast of Des Moines.

"The whole town knew the family," resident Marilyn Thomas said. "This is only a town of 465 people."

School officials said they will have counselors available Monday to speak with grieving students.

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AmberJ
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Re: Son suspected as 5 in Iowa family slain
« Reply #1 on: Oct 16^th, 2006, 3:36pm »

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CNN) -- Before she was shot and killed, 14-year-old Shayne Bentler called 911 and told the dispatcher her brother was "going to do something," according to Iowa police.

Then a voice in the background said, "Shawn, don't do it," followed by the sound of a gunshot, a police complaint said. The caller screamed, "Shawn no!" before the line went dead.

Shawn Michael Bentler, 22, is being held on $2.5 million bond in the shooting deaths of his parents and three teenage sisters, police said. (Watch the community's shocked reaction -- 1:33 )

The five gunshot victims were found Saturday in the town of Bonaparte after one of the fatally wounded teenage girls placed a 911 call at 3:38 a.m., said Special Agent Jim Saunders of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Bentler was arrested Saturday morning in Illinois on unrelated drug warrants.

Saunders said Shawn Bentler was charged Sunday in the deaths of his father, Michael Bentler, 53; his mother, Sandra Bentler, 47; and sisters Sheena Bentler, 17; Shelby Bentler, 15; and Shayne Bentler, 14.

Shayne Bentler placed the 911 call, Saunders said.

According to the complaint, the caller told the 911 dispatcher her brother was "going to do something."

The complaint says a voice is heard in the background saying "Shawn don't do it," followed by a sound in the background consistent with a single gunshot. According to the complaint, the call ends with the caller screaming 'Shawn no.' "

Authorities told The Associated Press they received a second 911 call at the same time from the cell phone of Sandra Bentler. That call went unanswered.

The complaint said a deputy who went to the house found the bodies and numerous shell casings.

Details of the slayings await autopsies being performed Sunday in Des Moines by the Iowa State Medical Examiner's office, but Saunders said all five died of gunshot wounds.

Shawn Bentler was arrested about 60 miles east of Bonaparte in Adams County, Illinois, on an outstanding warrant there for failing to appear in court on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia, said Adams County Sheriff's Department Sgt. Bruce Harmon.

Bentler also was ticketed for failing to have auto insurance and for driving with a revoked license, Harmon said.

Bonaparte, with about 500 residents, is in southeast Iowa, near the Missouri state line.

Copyright 2006 CNN. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.

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