Larry Buttz
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Polk County, Iowa, USA
- Date of birth
- 1955
- Age at first offence
- 41
- Characteristics
- parricide, domestic violence, murder-suicide
- Victim profile
- His wife, Delane, 38, and their two children, Ryan, 15, and Lindsey, 12
- Method of murder
- Shooting
- Date(s) of murder
- November 5, 1996
- Years active
- 1996
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Died in custody
Committed suicide by shooting himself on 5 November 1996, the same day he shot his wife and two children to death in their beds
Case record
Background
Larry Buttz was a resident of Iowa. A month before the murder-suicide, Larry Buttz was charged with simple assault after his wife filed a complaint.
The dead were identified as Larry Buttz, his wife Delane Buttz, 38, and their two children Ryan, 15, and Lindsey, 12. The house where the shootings took place had worn wicker furniture and shriveled jack-o’-lanterns on the front porch left from Halloween.
The offence
Larry Buttz shot his wife and two children to death in their beds and then killed himself.
Investigators believed Larry Buttz shot his children, then his wife after finding out DeLane Buttz was having an affair.
Dr. Francis Garrity said after autopsies were completed:
"I believe that they all died in their sleep"
Investigation
Autopsy results indicated that Larry Buttz shot his 12-year-old daughter twice, killed his 15-year-old son and his wife with single shots, then killed himself, according to the Polk County medical examiner.
Dr. Francis Garrity said DeLane Buttz was struck in the front of the head with a blunt object before being shot in the back of the head.
Dr. Francis Garrity said the blunt-object injury led investigators to believe that Larry Buttz might have incapacitated his wife before walking up to the bedroom shared by his children and shooting them.
Dr. Francis Garrity said:
"That has led investigators to believe that Larry Buttz might have incapacitated his wife before walking up to the bedroom shared by his children and shooting them"
Dr. Francis Garrity said Lindsey was shot twice, possibly indicating that Ryan was shot first when their father had more time to aim:
"Lindsey was shot twice, possibly indicating that Ryan was shot first when their father had more time to aim"
Ankeny police believed Larry Buttz called 911 at 6:16 a.m. on Tuesday. Officers arrived about eight minutes later and found the front door unlocked.
Arrest
On Oct. 9, Larry Buttz was arrested and charged with simple assault after DeLane Buttz told police he had assaulted her in their home.
Sentencing
No sentencing information was provided.
Trial
No trial information was provided.
Appeals
No appeals information was provided.
Outcome
Autopsy results were completed indicating Larry Buttz killed his children and wife before killing himself.
Aftermath
The Autopsy results were reported on November 8, 1996.
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