Steven Sueppel

People

• Steven Sueppel (charged former Hills Bank and Trust Company executive; resident of Iowa City, Iowa; adoptive father/husband; defendant)
• Sheryl Sueppel (wife; teacher in the Iowa City school district from 1989 until 2001; victim)
• Ethan (adopted child; age 10; victim)
• Seth (adopted child; age 9; victim)
• Mira (adopted child; age 5; victim)
• Eleanor (adopted child; age 3; victim)
• Jack and Gisela Kesterson (Sueppels' parents; Iowa City; issued a statement)
• Bill and Pat Sueppel (Sueppels' parents; Iowa City; issued a statement)
• William and Patricia Tierney Sueppel (Steven Sueppel’s parents; William and Patricia Tierney Sueppel are named)
• William F. Sueppel (Steven’s father; partner with Meardon, Sueppel & Downer law firm in Iowa City)
• Bill and Pat Sueppel (appears as the Sueppels’ parents named in connection with the statement)
• William J. Sueppel (Steven’s brother; attorney at Meardon, Sueppel & Downer)
• Bud Sueppel (owns Sueppel's Flowers; University of Iowa booster)
• Becky Foerstner of Coralville (family friend)
• Terrance Neuzil (Johnson County Supervisor)
• Roberta Caris (neighbor)
• Jim Pedersen (human resources director, Iowa City school district)
• Susan Gray (executive director, 4Cs Child Care Resource and Referral)
• Rev. Kenneth Kuntz (Rev.; St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City)
• Kurtis Hiatt (The Daily Iowan; reporter name)
• Gregg Hennigan (The Gazette; reporter name)
• Thomas Shields (U.S. District Court judge)
• Leon Spies of Iowa City (Sueppel’s attorney)
• Lonny Pulkrabek (Sheriff)
• Troy Kelsay (Iowa City police Sgt.)
• Detective Chief Inspector / other officials: not established by name beyond those listed above

Background

Steven Sueppel was a former executive of Hills Bank and Trust Company and resident of Iowa City, Iowa. He was born on August 13, 1965, the son of William and Patricia Tierney Sueppel. He graduated from Regina High School and the University of Northern Iowa.

Steven and Sheryl Sueppel were married on June 13, 1990. The Sueppels were members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, and their children were baptized there. Rev. Kenneth Kuntz said Steven and Sheryl were married at St. Mary's and their children were baptized there.

Sheryl Sueppel was a teacher in the Iowa City school district from 1989 until 2001 at Mann, Penn and Wickham elementaries. The district’s human resources director, Jim Pedersen, said she worked in the district during that period. Records show that the Sueppels donated to the school district's foundation, its Run for the Schools fundraiser, the Iowa City Hospice and other charities. In early February, Sheryl started work as the education and training coordinator at 4Cs Child Care Resource and Referral in Iowa City. Susan Gray, executive director of 4Cs Child Care Resource and Referral, said she was “a very caring, compassionate person very interested in our mission, which is supporting and caring for families in Johnson County.”

Steven Sueppel was a 1983 graduate of Regina High School. William F. Sueppel was described as a partner with Meardon, Sueppel & Downer law firm in Iowa City, and William J. Sueppel was described as an attorney at the firm.

The Sueppel name was described as well known in Iowa City. Terrance Neuzil said: “Whenever you hear the Sueppel name, you just know it's good people.”

Steven Sueppel was charged with stealing $559,040 from Hills Bank and Trust Company over a period of several years. He was charged with embezzlement and money laundering and pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering on February 20, 2008.

A combined funeral was held for both parents and their children, with all were buried together and the theme was forgiveness.

A four-page note written by Steven indicated that he and his family would be better off this way instead of enduring further pressures caused by the charges against him.

The offence

On the night of March 23rd or the morning of March 24th, 2008, Steven Sueppel committed a multiple murder in Iowa City, Iowa. Evidence collected suggested that he bludgeoned his wife and four children to death.

Police found Sheryl Sueppel and her four adopted children (Ethan, 10; Seth, 9; Mira, 5 and Eleanor, 3) at the home, located at 629 Barrington Road in Iowa City. Police believed the victims were Sheryl and the couple’s four children.

Authorities pieced together a general sequence of events through voice-mail messages and a lengthy, handwritten letter Steven Sueppel left for family on a kitchen table. The general sequence described that Steven Sueppel killed his wife Sheryl Sueppel first in their master bedroom, then took his children into the home’s garage to kill them and commit suicide, probably by asphyxiation from a vehicle's exhaust fumes. When this attempt failed, the children were then killed separately in bedrooms and in a “toy room” in the house.

The examination described blunt-force injuries. Kurtis Hiatt reported that Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office officials said the victims died of numerous injuries from blunt-force trauma to their upper torsos and heads, and that Steven Sueppel died of blunt-force injuries he sustained after he intentionally crashed his minivan on I-80. Iowa City police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said: “The injuries were consistent with … what Steven Sueppel had said and the evidence recovered, which involved the ball bat.” Authorities had said at a press conference that Steven Sueppel initially took his children into the home’s garage to attempt to asphyxiate them with his vehicle’s exhaust fumes; examiners said carbon-monoxide poisoning and asphyxiation did not contribute to the deaths.

The injuries were consistent with the evidence recovered, which involved baseball bats, and police have said two baseball bats may have been involved.

After the killings, Steven Sueppel drove to the Iowa River at Lower City Park to try to drown himself but was not able to sink. Police also said he called 911, requested that rescue personnel be sent to his home, and drove his van into a concrete abuttment on Interstate 80.

Steven Sueppel died from the combination of injuries suffered in the car accident along with the resultant fire. His body was burned beyond recognition and identified using dental records.

Investigation

On the morning of the killings, police were directed to 629 Barrington Road by an anonymous 9-1-1 caller. The anonymous caller was later confirmed to be Steven Sueppel.

They arrived around 6:45 AM and found Sheryl Sueppel and her four adopted children at the home.

The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office reported blunt-force injuries and medical findings that carbon-monoxide poisoning and asphyxiation did not contribute to the deaths.

Authorities were “wrapping up loose ends” in their investigation and said officers were no longer holding the crime scene at the Sueppels' home. They had not finished looking at the Sueppels' minivan, and Sgt. Troy Kelsay said he did not know when the investigation would be closed.

Arrest / pretrial process

Steven Sueppel was at the time charged with stealing $559,040 from the bank and had pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering. He was out on bond at the time of the murders with a trial date set for April.

On February 20, 2008, he pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering.

On Feb. 21, 2008, a federal arraignment occurred at a U.S. District Court. Judge Thomas Shields set trial for April 21. Sueppel was released on $250,000 personal bond. The judge noted that Sueppel did not have a criminal history and government officials did not consider him a flight risk.

Sueppel, 42, of 629 Barrington Rd. in Iowa City, was charged with one count of embezzlement of bank funds and six counts of money laundering while serving as the bank's vice president and controller. The government sought forfeiture of the $559,040 Sueppel was accused of stealing.

The embezzlement charge carried a maximum penalty of 30 years in jail, a $1 million fine and five years of supervised release. Each money laundering charge was punishable by up to 20 years in jail, a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the funds allegedly stolen, and three years' supervised release.

The indictment followed an investigation by the FBI and the Johnson County Sheriff's Office. The indictment said the alleged thefts began on July 26, 2000 and continued until Sept. 12, 2007.

Sueppel’s arraignment lasted 15 minutes. Sueppel spoke only when the judge asked questions, giving mostly short yes and no answers.

Sueppel told the judge he worked at Superior Concrete in Iowa City. He did not specify what kind of work he did but said he did not handle money. Shields forbade Sueppel from handling cash or checks for an employer.

Shields also prohibited Sueppel from possessing any firearms, narcotics, controlled substances or drugs without a prescription. He also required regular contact with a probation officer and could subject him to drug tests.

Three search warrants executed by the Sheriff's Office and filed in Iowa City in Johnson County District Court revealed that Hills Bank officials reported on Oct. 4 that they had noticed discrepancies in one of the asset accounts Sueppel managed.

A document used to apply for one of the search warrants said Sueppel admitted to bank officials to stealing more than $219,000 over three years and using most of it to buy cocaine. However, he was not charged with anything drug-related and no illegal drugs were found at his home when the search warrant was executed Oct. 4.

Sheriff Lonny Pulkrabek said in an e-mail message there was no evidence Sueppel spent any money on drugs.

Sueppel’s attorney, Leon Spies, said after the hearing he was not sure of the circumstances surrounding Sueppel’s alleged confession to bank officials. Spies said: “I can assure the community and your readers that drugs had nothing to do with this case.”

Timeline

• August 13, 1965 — Steven Sueppel was born to William and Patricia Tierney Sueppel.
• 1983 — Steven Sueppel graduated from Regina High School.
• June 13, 1990 — Steven and Sheryl Sueppel married.
• July 26, 2000 — The indictment said alleged thefts began.
• Oct. 4 — Hills Bank officials noticed discrepancies in one of the asset accounts Sueppel managed; search warrants were executed and no illegal drugs were found at his home.
• Sept. 12, 2007 — The indictment said alleged thefts continued until this date.
• February 20, 2008 — Steven Sueppel pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering.
• Feb. 12, 2008 — A federal grand jury indicted him.
• Feb. 21, 2008 — Sueppel pleaded not guilty at a U.S. District Court arraignment; Judge Thomas Shields set trial for April 21 and released him on $250,000 personal bond.
• March 23, 2008 — The night of March 23rd; the killings were committed in Iowa City.
• March 24, 2008 — The morning of March 24th; the killings were committed in Iowa City.
• April 21, 2008 — Scheduled trial date set by Judge Thomas Shields.
• August 2008 — Hills Bank and Trust filed court documents demanding payment from Sueppel's estate for allegedly embezzled funds and $32,673 in outstanding loans.
• 6:31 AM (Monday) — A call to 9-1-1 was made from a cellphone telling dispatchers to “go … immediately” to Steven and Sheryl Sueppel’s home before disconnecting.
• 6:37 AM (Monday) — An Iowa State Patrol crash report described Sueppel slamming his minivan into a sign post on I-80.
• 6:45 AM (Monday) — Police arrived at 629 Barrington Road and found Sheryl Sueppel and the four adopted children.
• Around 6:36 AM (Monday) — Sueppel died in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 outside Iowa City.
• Sunday AM (Easter Mass) — The Sueppel family attended Easter Mass at St.
• Sunday 8 PM — A family friend visited the Sueppels' home and saw one of the children.
• Sunday 11:30 PM — Steven Sueppel left a message for his father and brother at their law firm, stating that his family was “in heaven.”
• Monday 3:45 AM — Steven Sueppel left a message at the office of his former employer, Hills Bank.
• Monday 3:50 AM — Steven Sueppel left a message on his home answering machine expressing his regret.
• Monday 4:01 AM — Steven Sueppel left a second message on his home answering machine; the message indicated he tried to drown himself in the Iowa River at Lower City Park but he “kept floating.”
• Between Sunday and Monday — Voice-mails were left at Meardon, Sueppel, & Downer; Hills Bank & Trust; and his home between 11:30 p.m. Sunday and 4:01 a.m. Monday.

Trial

Steven Sueppel was charged with stealing $559,040 from Hills Bank and Trust Company. He pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering on February 20, 2008. His trial was set for April 21 after the Feb. 21, 2008 arraignment.

Sentencing

No sentencing occurred because Steven Sueppel died by suicide after the killings.

Appeals

No appeals were stated.

Outcome

Authorities described Steven Sueppel as responsible for the slayings. Police believed Sheryl Sueppel and her four adopted children died from injuries consistent with blunt-force trauma and other described attempted methods of killing. Investigators determined Steven Sueppel died after he intentionally crashed his minivan on Interstate 80 and that his body was burned beyond recognition and identified using dental records.

In August 2008, Hills Bank and Trust filed court documents demanding payment from Sueppel's estate for allegedly embezzled funds and for $32,673 in outstanding loans.

Aftermath

Friends and family said they were shocked by the deaths. Becky Foerstner of Coralville said of the charges: “I thought that was the epitome of shocking.” She also said: “And then this is just over the top.”

Police believe Sueppel was driving but were unable to immediately get a positive identity because of the fire. Steven, Sheryl and their four children attended Easter Mass, and Rev. Kenneth Kuntz said they appeared as a caring, loving family.

Rev. Kenneth Kuntz said: “They had done a wonderful job of adopting the four children and always appeared to me to be a caring, loving family,” and he also said: “So this obviously is a tremendous shock.”

Kuntz identified the adopted children as Ethan, 10, Seth, 7, Mira, 5, and Eleanor, 3.

Kuntz also said he went to Steven Sueppel’s parents’ home where family had gathered: “They were in a state of shock, I guess I would say.” He added: “We were able to pray with them and be with them.”

Becky Foerstner said: “They were just a great family — absolutely great family” and she said of Sheryl: “They were involved with their kids — we're just still in shock about why this had to happen.”

Roberta Caris said she saw the family last week and knew about Sueppel’s legal troubles but thought the family was working through it. She said: “I do know he was distraught over the situation but there was no indication this was going to happen,” and: “They were great people. They were involved with their kids — we're just still in shock about why this had to happen.”

The Sueppels’ parents issued a statement saying: “Various family members were with Steven, Sheryl and the children during Easter weekend, and saw nothing unusual.”

Jim Pedersen said Sheryl Sueppel was a teacher in the Iowa City school district from 1989 until 2001 at Mann, Penn and Wickham elementaries.

Susan Gray’s statement about Sheryl was: “She was a very caring, compassionate person very interested in our mission, which is supporting and caring for families in Johnson County.”

Terrance Neuzil’s statement about the Sueppel family was: “Whenever you hear the Sueppel name, you just know it's good people,”

Medical information and investigative details included that carbon-monoxide poisoning and asphyxiation did not contribute to the deaths, and that examiners said. Additionally, police Sgt. Troy Kelsay said investigators were wrapping up loose ends in their investigation and had not finished looking at the minivan.

Other details

911 transcript

Dispatch: “This is 9-1-1. Location of your emergency?” Caller: “Hello?” Dispatch: “No this is... Where, what is the location of your emergency?” Caller: “Iowa City, Iowa.” Dispatch: “What's the address?” Caller: “629 Barrington Road. Please go there immediately.” Dispatch: “What's going on there?” Caller hangs up.

Message contents

Authorities reported that Steven Sueppel apologized many times in messages, voicing despair about his legal troubles and embarrassment of losing his job as a vice president at Hills Bank & Trust.

In a call to the law firm, Steven Sueppel said his family was “in heaven.”

In a message at home answering machine, he indicated he tried to drown himself in the Iowa River at Lower City Park but he “kept floating.”

Steven left numerous short voice mails between Sunday 11:30 p.m. and Monday 4:01 a.m. at Meardon, Sueppel, & Downer; Hills Bank & Trust; and his home.

A lengthy, handwritten letter Steven Sueppel left for family on a kitchen table was used in authorities' sequence of events.

Victim ages

Sheryl Sueppel and her four adopted children were described as: Sheryl, 42; Ethan, 10; Seth, 7 or 9 (both ages appear in the material); Mira, 5; Eleanor, 3.

Identity and cause of death details

Steven Sueppel’s body was burned beyond recognition and identified using dental records.

Authorities stated that he died of blunt-force injuries he sustained after he intentionally crashed his minivan on I-80, and that the victims died of numerous injuries from blunt-force trauma to their upper torsos and heads.