Shawn Bentler

Background

Shawn Bentler (born 1983 or 1984) was a convicted murderer from Bonaparte, Iowa.

The case involved the killings of Michael Bentler, 53, and his wife, Sandra Bentler, 47, and their daughters Sheena, 17, Shelby, 15, and Shayne, 14.

In proceedings described during the trial, prosecutors argued Shawn Bentler wanted to inherit money from the family’s successful grain elevator and lumberyard businesses. Bentler was also described as having a relationship with his parents and a demeanor in the hours before and after the killings.

A witness who knew Bentler from school and as a roommate described Bentler as “a good friend” but “a bad roommate,” saying he was lazy and was terrible about paying bills, especially rent. The same witness said Bentler had trouble keeping jobs and was behind in paying bills and child support to two young daughters by two mothers.

The witness said that when he asked Bentler for help with bills and to pay rent for the house they shared at 26th and Spruce in Quincy, Bentler would go to Iowa and come back with items like jewelry and bags of quarters. The witness suspected Bentler was taking items from his parents’ safe in their Bonaparte residence before the murders.

The family members of the victims attended the Van Buren County Courthouse each day of the trial, some wearing buttons showing a photo of the slain family members. Mario Mendez described Shawn Bentler’s nephew’s testimony Friday as a “desperate attempt to save himself.”

Greg Bentler, Mike Bentler’s brother, and Mario Mendez, Sandra Bentler’s brother, spoke publicly for the first time about the trial late Friday afternoon at the end of the week-long proceedings.

The offence

Shawn Bentler was accused of fatally shooting his parents, Michael and Sandra Bentler, and sisters Sheena, 17, Shelby, 15, and Shayne, 14, during the middle of the night on Oct. 14, 2006 at their rural Bonaparte home.

Prosecutors said the victims died of shotgun wounds. The later closing arguments described a Remington .22 caliber rifle forensically connected to the murders. The judge and prosecutors discussed how a mother and sister would almost certainly not mistake a son and brother as the murderer, based on the 9-1-1 call and the identity issue raised at trial.

During closing arguments, Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown argued Bentler turned off lights after shooting, fled the scene, panicked because he saw a phone in Shayne’s hand when he shot her, and threw the Remington rifle into a ditch less than two miles from the Bentler residence.

The prosecution also argued that the murderer had to know the layout of the Bentler residence because of its unique design and would have had to know where light switches were located.

Investigation

Authorities said a 911 tape recorded Bentler’s mother and sister Shayne pleading with Bentler before a shotgun blast was heard and the phone went dead.

In testimony about the 9-1-1 call, Van Buren County sheriff 9-1-1 dispatcher Nancy Springsteen testified she received a 9-1-1 call at 3:38 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14 from a caller identifying herself as Shayne Bentler.

The 14-year-old said she was instructed by her mother to call, but was not sure of the nature of the emergency. Springsteen said she asked if her mother was ill and that Shayne replied that she was not. A few seconds later Shayne said “My brother is going to do something, but I don't know what.” In the background Sandra Bentler was heard yelling, “Shawn don't!” which was followed by a gunshot. A creaking sound followed, which prosecutors argued was the sound of Shayne’s closet door being pushed open. Shayne then yelled, “Shawn, no!” before the line went dead.

A second 9-1-1 call made at 3:39 a.m. from Shelby Bentler on her mother’s cell phone did not reach a dispatcher; the call registered a series of clicking sounds, and when a dispatcher attempted to return it, the call went unanswered.

Mike Halverson, a DNA analyst for the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, testified that the white ankle socks Shawn Bentler was wearing when he was arrested contained two small drops of his mother’s blood. Halverson wore plastic gloves when handling the socks in court.

Defense attorneys argued the blood could have transferred through laundry and that Bentler’s mother did his laundry. Halverson showed the judge the two visible blood spots he tested and said “some sort of impact had to have happened to make the blood stain break up that way.”

Halverson matched several blood samples with DNA profiles of the five murder victims and Bentler. None of the samples were matched to Shawn Bentler; however, samples in the master bedroom matched the DNA of Mike and Sandra Bentler.

Other blood samples found on the door of Shayne’s room, a wall in the hallway leading to the bedrooms, and a white land line phone on a stand in the hallway matched Sandra Bentler’s DNA, showing she was at various locations in the hallway before dying slumped against a chair at the end of the hallway.

Closing arguments included statements from Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown that, while prosecutors could not determine whether Sheena Bentler was killed first or last among the five victims, the evidence showed Shawn Bentler went upstairs where other bedrooms were located. Brown said Bentler struggled with his father and hit him with the butt of the Remington .22 caliber rifle forensically connected to the murders, shooting him in the leg and head before shooting the others.

Brown said: “Mike was the biggest threat. They struggled and Shawn Bentler won,” “We hear Sandra scream...the gunshots. Then we hear Shayne on the phone, the creaking of the closet door and gunshots before the line goes dead. We know Shelby was next because of the clicking sound her 9-1-1 call made at 3:39 a.m.”

Brown said the murderer had to be someone who knew where light switches were located. A Van Buren County deputy testified there were not lights on in the residence when he arrived at the scene at 3:56 a.m. in response to the 9-1-1 calls. Prosecutors contended the murderer turned on some lights and turned them off when fleeing.

Brown argued: “How do we know that? From the accuracy of the shots. They were shot in the head. Someone would have to know their way around the property, to the house, and their way in that house to know how to get up to the upper bedrooms. Someone had to know where lights were located to turn them on and off.”

Brown argued Bentler turned off the lights after shooting Shelby, fled the scene, and panicked because he saw a phone in Shayne’s hand when he shot her. Brown said during closing arguments: “He panicked. He saw the phone and he knew it had to be the police,” “So he took the back road. If he took the main driveway he might be met by a deputy and arrested. And he had to get rid of the gun fast, otherwise he could have thrown it into the river.”

Arrest

Shawn Bentler was arrested at about 10:15 that morning while on his motorcycle a few blocks from his residence.

He spent the afternoon at the Quincy Police Department being interviewed by Iowa investigators, then was lodged in the Adams County Jail.

Bentler needed $1,000 to get out of jail for possession of cannabis and several traffic violations, but had no luck getting the money.

Early that night, Bentler called the witness who had grown up with him and told him he wanted to get out before his bond jumped to “$1 million or $2 million.” The witness described Bentler as wanting the witness to bail him out and call people for him, and said Bentler was “sort of freaking out, you could tell it in his voice .... he wanted to get out before his bond jumped to $1 million or $2 million.”

The witness said he was uncomfortable talking to Bentler and did not offer to help his former roommate.

Trial

Shawn Bentler pleaded not guilty Nov. 1 and waived his right to a jury trial, with the verdict in the hands of District Judge Michael Mullins.

A bench trial lasted a week. The judge read the verdict in Van Buren County District Court.

Defense attorneys David Sallen and D.J. Arbabha asked the judge to dismiss the case at points during the proceedings, arguing prosecutors had failed to meet their burden of proof by showing Bentler had the means, motive and opportunity to commit the murders. The judge denied the motion.

During the trial, Bentler was put on the stand as the defense’s final witness. Bentler reminisced about holding each of his sisters at their births and described a bond with his mother that only grew deeper when he became a parent.

Bentler said, “She was happy to be a grandma.” He also said of his father, “First and foremost he was a provider for everybody. He put everybody else's needs first. No matter what he did, he was the best at it,” and said: “I didn't have a habit of asking for a lot,” “But if there was something that needed to be taken care of and I didn't have money, my Dad would take care of it.”

Bentler said, “I loved my three sisters.” He said Sheena was more of a tomboy and liked hunting, that Shelby was “an amazing cook,” and that Shayne was very smart like his other sisters.

During the prosecution’s cross examination, Bentler admitted he stole his mother’s jewelry and pawned much of it and stole money and gasoline from his parents. Bentler denied speaking negatively about his parents.

A prosecution rebuttal witness, Cornell Williams, said Bentler had plenty to say about his father and that it was seldom good. Williams testified: “He didn't like his father at all,” and that Bentler “would eventually inherit his money.” Williams said he worked at Chevy Shottenkirk in Quincy, Ill. with Bentler for several months until Bentler was fired, and continued to socialize with him occasionally until September.

Travis Holder, Bentler’s roommate in Quincy, was recalled to the stand in rebuttal. Holder testified he was with Bentler when he took about $150 in change from his parents’ safe—which was unlocked—and some of his mother’s jewelry.

Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown addressed the identity issue during closing arguments and argued Shayne identified Shawn Bentler three times on the 9-1-1 tape.

Brown said: “Identity is the issue. How do we know it was Shawn Bentler? Shayne Bentler identifies him three times on that 9-1-1 tape. Sandra identifies him when you hear her say “Shawn don't,” Brown said.” Brown said: “We could have done this case in one day with just the 9-1-1 call.”

The defense repeatedly tried to prevent the admission of the 9-1-1 tape into evidence, claiming some of Shayne’s statements were hearsay since she was relaying what she was told by her mother. The judge denied these motions.

The defense submitted Sandra Bentler’s records from her optometrist to attempt to prove Sandra Bentler may have misidentified her killer. Bentler testified that his mother could not see clearly beyond 12 inches without glasses or her contacts.

Sentencing

After a bench trial that lasted a week, a judge found Bentler guilty of five counts of first-degree murder.

Judge Michael R. Mullins read the verdict in Van Buren County District Court. Prosecutors argued Bentler wanted to inherit money and that led Bentler to shoot his parents and teenage sisters with a .22 caliber rifle in the early morning hours of Oct. 14, 2006.

Bentler faced a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, and sentencing was set for June 19.

On June 19, 2007, Shawn Bentler was sentenced to five consecutive life sentences to be served in an Iowa State Prison. The four life sentences that were concurrent were for the murders of the three Bentler girls and Michael Bentler. The other life sentence was to be served consecutively for the murder of Sandra Bentler.

Appeals

Shawn Bentler appealed his case to the Iowa Supreme Court.

A July 7, 2007 report stated Bentler was serving life in prison for shooting his parents and three teenage sisters in their rural Bonaparte home after driving from his home in Quincy, Illinois, last October. It said Bentler had denied any wrongdoing and had been convicted May 24 of five counts of first-degree murder and sentenced last month to five life sentences.

The same report said Bentler had asked relatives to stand by him while he appealed the verdict, calling the evidence weak and circumstantial.

Outcome

Shawn Bentler was found guilty of five counts of first-degree murder.

Judge Michael R. Mullins said: “A mother and sister would almost certainly not mistake their son and brother as the murderer.”

Aftermath

Relatives of the victims hugged as the defendant left for jail after the guilty verdict. Gregg Bentler said: “Unfortunately, evil found its way to this place and unfortunately to our family,” and Mario Mendez said: “We're all still in shock, it's the whole situation just doesn't seem real,” and: “My mother is very religious - you've seen her holding her rosary every day, and that will get us through it too.” Mendez also said: “We will heal, gather together, and as a family we'll get through this,” and Gregg Bentler’s statement included: “It shows you that as beautiful as this family was, evil somehow found its way.”

A Bonaparte resident, Sharon Menke, said: “I don't feel any better. I think it's a no-win situation. A whole family got wiped out in the process and now a son has basically lost his life.”

Bentler’s attorney delivered a written comment from Bentler in which Bentler thanked family members who visited him for several months, continued to assert his innocence, and demanded an appeal. The comment said “the circumstantial evidence against me was very weak.”

Other details

In testimony and background discussed during the proceedings, multiple details about Shawn Bentler’s life were described.

A witness who grew up about a mile away from the Bentler family in Bonaparte said Bentler never had trouble with the law growing up there and attended Harmony High School, where he ran on the track team and was one of 40 students in his class. The same witness said Bentler’s parents were well-respected and always attended their children’s activities.

Peggy Troutman, who ran the Bonaparte Mercantile grocery store, said: “I knew him when he was in school here and he was a nice kid,” and added: “I didn't know him after he left.”

The witness and Bentler moved to the Trace Apartments in Quincy in the summer of 2002 and attended John Wood Community College. College records showed Bentler dropped out in November before his first semester was over.

Hannah Flesner of Mount Sterling, then a student at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, lived next to Bentler in the Trace Apartments at that time. She described him as a friendly young man who never caused any trouble and said: “I didn't know him really well, but he seemed like a really nice kid.”

Flesner said Bentler was sometimes seen with a young daughter.

The Des Moines Register reported in October that Bentler had recently been getting to know his younger daughter, 1-year-old Avaley Leslie. Avaley Leslie’s mother, Lexie Leslie, told the newspaper she had broken up with Bentler when she was two months pregnant, but that Bentler had been trying to reconnect since September. Kasha Nicole Pickard, mother of Bentler’s other daughter, Cloe Bentler, 4, said Bentler had not seen the girl in a long time. Pickard, who later married and went by Nicole Kite, said she ended Bentler’s every-other-weekend visits with Cloe some time ago but declined to say why.

The background also described that Bentler tried to keep up with child support payments when he was employed, according to Iowa authorities.

After living at the Trace Apartments, Bentler moved into an apartment at 18th and Kentucky in May 2003 and lived there for a couple of months. Nathan Allen of Quincy shared the apartment with Bentler and said: “I've never seen him mad before. He never yelled or even raised his voice.” Allen said Bentler mostly kept to himself.

Allen said Bentler rarely talked about his family and never went back to Iowa during that summer. Allen asked Bentler to leave in August 2003 because he was not paying rent and because he found Bentler’s marijuana pipe in the apartment. Allen said: “He didn't do it (smoke pot) in the apartment, but he did have paraphernalia,” and said: “That's one of the reasons I had to make him leave. He never smoked it up there (in his room). What he did on his own time was his business.”

Bentler was arrested in May in Quincy for possession of drug paraphernalia and missed a Sept. 19 court appearance for the charge.

Gratz insisted: “This whole thing has nothing to do with drugs,” and said: “Shawn didn't have the money to be into drugs that bad. He was always broke.”

When he lived with Allen, Bentler was employed at Home Depot and had a girlfriend. Allen said: “He had that job, but he called in sick a lot.” Bentler also worked at Lowe’s in Quincy for about four months, according to former Lowe’s employee Chris Cornwell, who said: “He was quiet,” and: “He was always very well-dressed when he came to work.” Spokesmen from Lowe’s and Home Depot declined to say how long Bentler worked for them or why he was no longer employed, but other employees said Bentler often did not show up for work.

Gratz said Bentler moved to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 2003 to work for his father at the family lumber business. Gratz said Bentler made good money by helping his father design and build houses.

Gratz said Bentler moved back to Quincy in early 2005, living with Holder and Gratz at 26th and Spruce. Court records indicated Bentler had several traffic violations in Iowa and did not have a valid Illinois driver’s license.

Gratz said he did not know why Bentler moved back to Quincy and described Bentler’s lack of business savvy or motivation compared with his father’s successful lumberyard businesses.

Gratz also said Bentler felt he had a lot to measure up against in his family, saying: “I do know that he felt he had a lot to measure up against when it came to his family.”

The background also described that Bentler sold used cars at Shottenkirk and Neal Coleman in Quincy but was fired from both jobs. He told his supervisors at Neal Coleman that his father had died of a heart attack.

On a late September night when a Neal Coleman employee saw Bentler drinking in a Quincy bar, the employee offered condolences about his father. Bentler responded: “I was never that close to him, anyway.”

The witness said Bentler enjoyed selling cars but lied about how well he was doing. Gratz said: “Almost every day he would come home and say, 'I sold a car today.' But then I'd ask him for rent money or for help with the bills, and he'd say it all went to child support.”

It was described that Bentler’s parents occasionally came to Quincy to bring their son food or take him shopping. On a warm early fall day in September, the Bentlers met Bentler at Reservoir Park in Quincy when Shawn, Gratz and some other friends were playing tennis. Gratz said: “They brought him a cooler of pulled pork or turkey,” and said: “His parents were nice people. They would have helped him at the drop of a hat.”

Gratz said Bentler was uncomfortable with living off his parents so he may have tried to distance himself from them, saying: “He didn't want to look bad in the eyes of his parents,” and: “He wasn't the type of person to ask for help.”

The witness said he had things to help him keep his mind off the murders and said he had no desire to talk with Bentler but kept up with the case through the media. He said: “I've been through the best of times and worst of times with Shawn, but nobody saw this coming — nobody,” and: “You know the guy for 22 years, and then this happens.”

Additional timeline details included that Bentler had been seen by his roommate at the Quincy house late on the night of Oct. 13, hours before the murders. The roommate said they shared the residence with Iowa native Nathan Holder. Around 8 a.m. on Oct. 14, about 4 1/2 hours after authorities said the murders took place, the witness stopped by the Quincy house and said Bentler was asleep on the couch.

The witness said Bentler often borrowed roommates’ vehicles without asking and that Holder’s car had about a quarter of a tank of gas missing that morning. The witness said he was “just hanging out” that morning when he got a phone call from his mother, and she told him the Bentler family had been killed and that Shawn, who was laying on the couch in front of him, “was the main suspect.”

The witness said he asked Shawn when he had last talked to his family and Bentler said it had been the day before. The witness said Bentler said he had left his cell phone in his mother’s car. The witness said he gave his cell phone to Bentler, who dialed a number that he said was his mother’s; no one answered. The witness said Bentler acted calmly and did not indicate anything was wrong and the witness said: “Nothing out of the ordinary.”

The witness said he left the house, called his boss to tell him he wasn’t coming in that day, then returned to Iowa to be with his family. He said he was later contacted by Iowa investigators.

The case proceedings also included that Bentler and his roommate discussed missing items from the parents’ safe before the murders, and the evidence described included DNA findings and the 9-1-1 calls with Shayne and Sandra Bentler’s statements identifying Shawn Bentler.