or close to it...
sometimes its embarrassing to be consider a part of the same species as others.
UPDATE: 3:45 P.M.
Family members and business associates are now releasing statements in response to the tragedy in Iowa City. Police say 5 people were found dead in the Steve Sueppel home on the east side of town this morning. They have now confirmed that the family's van was involved in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 near West Branch. They say an autopsy tomorrow will confirm whether Steve Seuppel is the dead man found inside the van.
The family released this statement: Jack and Gisela Kesterson and Bill and Pat Sueppel and their extended families are devastated by the multiple tragedies of early today, March 24.
These families provided love and emotional support to Steven, Sheryl and their children throughout their lives and particularly during the past few difficult months.
They have all tried to remain alert for signs of particular stress, and observed none. Various family members were with Steven, Sheryl and the children during Easter weekend, and saw nothing unusual.
The families would like to thank all those in our fine community who instantly offered their help in countless ways.
The thoughts and prayers of all will be deeply appreciated.
There will be no further public comment from the families. It is respectfully requested that the need for privacy of all those who are grieving be respected.
UPDATE: 3:40 P.M.
Hills Bank & Trust Company released this statement on the shootings:
This is a sad and tragic day for the family of Sheryl and Steve Sueppel and all who know and care about them. On behalf of the bank we want to express our heartfelt sadness for the events that occurred earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they grieve the loss of their family members.
UPDATE: 2:40 P.M.
Police have positively identified the van in a single-vehicle crash on I-80 as Steve Sueppel's vehicle.
Police say one woman and four children were found inside their home.
Police say there were two boys and two girls. The children were three, five, seven and ten.
Police sent out this release:
The Toyota Sienna minivan involved in the single-vehicle crash on I-80 at the 251 mile-marker has been positively identified as Steven Sueppel’s vehicle, which was being sought by law enforcement. The vehicle’s driver and sole occupant died in the fiery crash. Law enforcement has not been able to positively identify the deceased driver due to the fire. An autopsy on the driver has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 25. Additionally, autopsies have been scheduled for tomorrow on the five victims from the 629 Barrington Rd.
UPDATE: 12:40P.M. Police say a woman and four children have been found dead in an Iowa City home. Police are looking for a man who lives at the house, identified as Steve Sueppel. Authorities say the family's van is gone, but there was a fiery crash involving a similar van on Interstate 80 near West Branch, about 10 miles east of Iowa City.
Officials say driver is dead. Because of the fire, authorities are having a difficult time identifying the vehicle and the occupant.The bodies were found this morning in a home on Barrington Road on the city's east side. Sergeant Troy Kelsay says there was "trauma" to the victims, but it's unclear how they died.
According to court records, a man named Steven Sueppel who lives at the Barrington Road address was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of stealing about $560,000 from the bank where he worked.
Sueppel was charged with embezzlement of bank funds and money laundering while serving as the vice president and controller of Hills Bank and Trust. His trial was set for April 21st.
How the events unfolded: At 6:31a.m. the Iowa City Police received a 911 call from a cellular phone. The caller said that police needed to immediately respond to 629 Barrington Road and then disconnected. Dispatch was unable to make contact on call-back.
Responding officers found the house unlocked. Officers made entry out of concern for the safety of the occupants. Officers located five deceased persons, the adult female resident and four children.
Officers did not locate the adult male resident, Steven Sueppel. One of the family’s vehicles, a tan Toyota Sienna minivan, Iowa license 501BLO, was missing.
ICPD notified area law enforcement agencies and the University of Iowa issued a Hawk-Alert. Iowa City public schools went into lock-down mode until mid-morning.
Shortly after the 911 call, authorities responded to a single vehicle motor vehicle fatality crash on I-80. The vehicle involved is possibly the missing van; however, the vehicle was involved in an extensive fire which is hindering positive identification of the vehicle and occupant.
The University and Iowa City schools are now operating normally.
The Iowa DCI and the FBI are assisting the ICPD with the investigation.
Family members and business associates are now releasing statements in response to the tragedy in Iowa City. Police say 5 people were found dead in the Steve Sueppel home on the east side of town this morning. They have now confirmed that the family's van was involved in a fiery crash on Interstate 80 near West Branch. They say an autopsy tomorrow will confirm whether Steve Seuppel is the dead man found inside the van.
The family released this statement: Jack and Gisela Kesterson and Bill and Pat Sueppel and their extended families are devastated by the multiple tragedies of early today, March 24.
These families provided love and emotional support to Steven, Sheryl and their children throughout their lives and particularly during the past few difficult months.
They have all tried to remain alert for signs of particular stress, and observed none. Various family members were with Steven, Sheryl and the children during Easter weekend, and saw nothing unusual.
The families would like to thank all those in our fine community who instantly offered their help in countless ways.
The thoughts and prayers of all will be deeply appreciated.
There will be no further public comment from the families. It is respectfully requested that the need for privacy of all those who are grieving be respected.
UPDATE: 3:40 P.M.
Hills Bank & Trust Company released this statement on the shootings:
This is a sad and tragic day for the family of Sheryl and Steve Sueppel and all who know and care about them. On behalf of the bank we want to express our heartfelt sadness for the events that occurred earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as they grieve the loss of their family members.
UPDATE: 2:40 P.M.
Police have positively identified the van in a single-vehicle crash on I-80 as Steve Sueppel's vehicle.
Police say one woman and four children were found inside their home.
Police say there were two boys and two girls. The children were three, five, seven and ten.
Police sent out this release:
The Toyota Sienna minivan involved in the single-vehicle crash on I-80 at the 251 mile-marker has been positively identified as Steven Sueppel’s vehicle, which was being sought by law enforcement. The vehicle’s driver and sole occupant died in the fiery crash. Law enforcement has not been able to positively identify the deceased driver due to the fire. An autopsy on the driver has been scheduled for Tuesday, March 25. Additionally, autopsies have been scheduled for tomorrow on the five victims from the 629 Barrington Rd.
UPDATE: 12:40P.M. Police say a woman and four children have been found dead in an Iowa City home. Police are looking for a man who lives at the house, identified as Steve Sueppel. Authorities say the family's van is gone, but there was a fiery crash involving a similar van on Interstate 80 near West Branch, about 10 miles east of Iowa City.
Officials say driver is dead. Because of the fire, authorities are having a difficult time identifying the vehicle and the occupant.The bodies were found this morning in a home on Barrington Road on the city's east side. Sergeant Troy Kelsay says there was "trauma" to the victims, but it's unclear how they died.
According to court records, a man named Steven Sueppel who lives at the Barrington Road address was indicted by a grand jury last month on charges of stealing about $560,000 from the bank where he worked.
Sueppel was charged with embezzlement of bank funds and money laundering while serving as the vice president and controller of Hills Bank and Trust. His trial was set for April 21st.
How the events unfolded: At 6:31a.m. the Iowa City Police received a 911 call from a cellular phone. The caller said that police needed to immediately respond to 629 Barrington Road and then disconnected. Dispatch was unable to make contact on call-back.
Responding officers found the house unlocked. Officers made entry out of concern for the safety of the occupants. Officers located five deceased persons, the adult female resident and four children.
Officers did not locate the adult male resident, Steven Sueppel. One of the family’s vehicles, a tan Toyota Sienna minivan, Iowa license 501BLO, was missing.
ICPD notified area law enforcement agencies and the University of Iowa issued a Hawk-Alert. Iowa City public schools went into lock-down mode until mid-morning.
Shortly after the 911 call, authorities responded to a single vehicle motor vehicle fatality crash on I-80. The vehicle involved is possibly the missing van; however, the vehicle was involved in an extensive fire which is hindering positive identification of the vehicle and occupant.
The University and Iowa City schools are now operating normally.
The Iowa DCI and the FBI are assisting the ICPD with the investigation.
sometimes its embarrassing to be consider a part of the same species as others.