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Bentler Appeals Murder Convictions to Iowa Supreme Court

By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Jul 6, 2007 at 5:48 PM CDT

Story Updated: Oct 15, 2007 at 12:36 PM CDT

DES MOINES (AP) - Shawn Bentler is appealing his case to the Iowa Supreme Court.

The 23-year-old is serving life in prison for driving from his
home in Quincy, Illinois, last October and shooting his parents and three teenage sisters in their rural Bonaparte home.

Bentler, who has denied any wrongdoing, was convicted May 24 of five counts of first-degree murder and was sentenced last month to five life sentences.

Bentler has asked relatives to stand by him while he appeals the verdict, calling the evidence weak and circumstantial.

During trial, prosecutors said Bentler killed his family to gain control of his parents' $2.8 million estate. The focus of the prosecution's case was the 911 call placed by his 14-year-old sister Shayne. On the tape, she identifies her brother and screams before a gunshot is heard and the line goes dead.

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