Sueppel children were ages 3, 5, 7, and 10
Sueppel children were ages 3, 5, 7, and 10
IOWA CITY Neighbors and friends on Monday were mourning the deaths of a mother and her four children as police tried to figure out what happened to the father, who was recently indicted on federal embezzelment charges.
Authorities were scrambling to identify the remains of a body found in the family's van, which was destroyed in a fiery, single vehicle crash on Interstate 80 around the time police discovered the five bodies in their home.
Sgt. Troy Kelsay said police wouldn't know until after an autopsy if it was Steven Sueppel's body in the van, although he added, "if I was a betting man I would be comfortable betting a fair chunk of money on that."
"It fits the time of the accident," he said. "He is the only person unaccounted for."
Court records show that Sueppel was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of stealing about $560,000 from the bank where he worked.
Kelsay wouldn't release the names of the victims found at the family's home, but he confirmed they were Sueppel's wife and children, ages 3, 5, 7 and 10. He said autopsies on all of the bodies, including the one from the van, were scheduled for Tuesday.
The matter began when dispatchers received a call at 6:31 a.m. on Monday saying officers needed to respond immediately to a home at 629 Barrington Road on Iowa City's east side. The caller then hung up.
Officers arrived to the unlocked house, then entered and found the five bodies inside. Police didn't specify how the family was killed. Initial alerts said there had been a shooting at the home, but Kelsay said further investigation shows the deaths could be the result of some other trauma.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the FBI were assisting in the investigation.
Neighbors in the affluent suburban neighborhood reacted with disbelief.
Nearby resident Roberta Caris said her two daughters were friends with the family's children. She said "they were great people and they were involved with their kids."
Caris said she knew that Steven Sueppel was "distraught" over the federal indictment, "but there was no indication that this would happen."
Another neighbor, 63-year-old Linda Berryhill, said she hadn't met the family but had seen the kids playing outside.
"It's unbelievable. It's the day after Easter," she said. "This is a nice neighborhood, nice people helping each other."
Three young girls who live in the development and knew the family wrote chalk messages on the sidewalk in the area that said, "We are going to miss you guys," and "I wish that this day never came."
Jean Falk, 60, of Iowa City, dropped off roses and other flowers near the police tape strung along the family's front yard.
"I didn't even know the family, I just know in our community we have a strong resolve," she said. "This is such a heinous, tragic and senseless act."
Telephone calls and requests for comment from the Sueppel's extended family went unanswered.
According to court records, Steven Sueppel was charged with one count of embezzlement of bank funds and six counts of money laundering while serving as the vice president and controller of Hills Bank and Trust in Johnson County.
Authorities said the alleged thefts occurred between July 2000 and September 2007.
Sueppel, 42, pleaded not guilty to the charges in U.S. District Court and was released on a $250,000 personal bond. The government was also seeking the forfeiture of the money he was accused of stealing.
His trial was scheduled for April 21.
Sueppel's attorney in that case, Leon Spies, said he had heard of the deaths.
"I had great affection for Steve and his family. This is an unimaginable professional and personal tragedy for a lot of people," he said.
The bank where Sueppel had worked released a statement late Monday afternoon.
"On behalf of the bank we want to express our heartfelt sadness for the events that occurred earlier today," the statement said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they grieve the loss of their family members."