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Fiery crash after 5 murders
by Gregory R. Norfleet · News · March 26, 2008
A former Hills Bank vice president, recently indicted for embezzling $559,000, killed himself Monday morning in a fiery crash soon after his wife and four children were found dead in their home, according to law enforcement officials.
Iowa State Patrol and Iowa City Police said Tuesday that Steven Francis Sueppel, 42, of Iowa City was driving the Toyota Sienna minivan that crashed Monday morning into an electronic sign post and burst into flames.
The body was burned beyond immediate recognition, ISP Trooper Mike Hicks said at the scene. The van had been positively identified as the one missing from the Sueppel home.
According to the Iowa City Press-Citizen, autopsies on Tuesday, March 25, revealed that Sueppel’s wife, Sheryl, died of blunt force trauma and their four children — Ethan, 10, Seth, 7, Mira, 5, and Eleanor, 3 — died of blunt force trauma or asphyxiation. Police said they found evidence Sueppel tried both.
According to a press release, the ICPD received a 911 call at 6:31 a.m. Monday from a person later identified as Steven Sueppel that police needed to immediately respond to 629 Barrington Road, which is the Sueppel residence. A call-back was unsuccessful. Upon arrival at the home, police found the bodies of Sheryl Sueppel and the couple’s four children. The home was found unlocked.
A Toyota Sienna was missing from the home and police began searching for the van with the license plate 501 BLO. Area law enforcement agencies and the University of Iowa were notified, and the U of I issued a HawkAlert, a text message to university students and staff: “An active shooter is in the Iowa City Area. White male, mid 40s in 98 Tan Toyota Sienna Van. IA plate 501 BLO. Call 911 if seen.”
The alert was rescinded about 9:45 a.m. Monday.
Iowa City Schools were also on temporary lockdown Monday morning.
Between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. Monday, police received a call that a minivan had crashed on I-80. Hicks said the van was traveling westbound, toward Iowa City, at the 250 mile marker, when it struck one of the concrete supports under the over-the-road electronic sign. The impact caused the rear of the minivan to jump up on a wire fence that separates the eastbound lane from the median. The crash occurred near the Wapsi Road bridge, south of Herbert Hoover Highway.
West Branch Fire Department responded to the scene, along with Johnson County Sheriff deputies, Johnson County Rescue and ISP troopers. Emergency vehicles funneled eastbound and westbound traffic into the right lanes of I-80 for more than an hour. Once the fire had been extinguished and the WBFD left the scene, the westbound traffic reopened to two lanes, but many motorists kept slowing down to view the scene. The gapers block caused ISP troopers to start waving at motorists to move along. A yellow tarp was placed over the victim’s body.
West Branch resident Jason Miller said he was driving by the crash site a few minutes before 9 a.m. Monday when he saw an explosion underneath and out of the rear of the van.
“It’s still so surreal to me,” he said. “It was the weirdest thing I’d ever seen.”
The FBI is helping with the investigation.
According to federal court documents for the Southern District of Iowa, Sueppel was indicted Feb. 11, arrested Feb. 12 and charged with embezzlement and money laundering. The alleged crimes occurred between July 26, 2000, and Sept. 12, 2007.
Sueppel pleaded not guilty to the federal charges and was released by Judge Thomas J. Shields on $250,000 bond and with the stipulation that he not possess any firearms or drugs. His next court appearance was set for April 7 and a trial date was set for April 21. His attorney is Leon Fred Spies of Mellon & Spies of Iowa City.
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