Shawn Bentler
Encyclopedia
Shawn Bentler is a convicted mass murderer from Bonaparte, Iowa
.
Shawn murdered his parents and three teenage sisters in the early hours of Oct. 14, 2006, with a 22. caliber rifle. Prosecutors claimed his motivation was to inherit
the family fortune.
The key piece of evidence in the trial was a 911 call placed by his 14-year-old sister, Shayne. In the 3:30 a.m. call, she told dispatchers her brother was in the home and "going to do something." The phone call ended with a scream.
Shawn Bentler took the stand and said he had stolen from his parents and hated his father, but did not kill his family.
served in an Iowa State Prison. The four life sentences that are concurrent are for the murders of the three Bentler girls and their father, Michael Bentler.
Judge Michael Mullins sentenced Bentler to a consecutive sentence for the murder of his mother, Sandra Bentler. Mullins called that death in particular "absolutely merciless."
Bonaparte, Iowa
Bonaparte is a city in Van Buren County, Iowa, United States. The population was 458 at the 2000 census. The town is located on the Des Moines River and contains a number of historical buildings, including a large pottery. The town was flooded during the Flood of 1851.-Geography:Bonaparte's...
.
Shawn murdered his parents and three teenage sisters in the early hours of Oct. 14, 2006, with a 22. caliber rifle. Prosecutors claimed his motivation was to inherit
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
the family fortune.
The key piece of evidence in the trial was a 911 call placed by his 14-year-old sister, Shayne. In the 3:30 a.m. call, she told dispatchers her brother was in the home and "going to do something." The phone call ended with a scream.
Shawn Bentler took the stand and said he had stolen from his parents and hated his father, but did not kill his family.
Sentencing
On June 19, 2007, Shawn Bentler was sentenced to four concurrent life sentences and a consecutive life sentence to beserved in an Iowa State Prison. The four life sentences that are concurrent are for the murders of the three Bentler girls and their father, Michael Bentler.
Judge Michael Mullins sentenced Bentler to a consecutive sentence for the murder of his mother, Sandra Bentler. Mullins called that death in particular "absolutely merciless."