Bonaparte Murder Suspect Back in Iowa, in Court

By Steve Nicoles, Reporter

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: Oct 17, 2006 at 10:59 AM CST

Story Updated: Oct 17, 2006 at 3:28 PM CST

BONAPARTE - The man accused of killing five family members in a rural southern Iowa town is in court Tuesday.

Shawn Bentler reportedly shot and killed his parents and three sisters in their Bonaparte home over the weekend.

An emotional initial appearance for Shawn Bentler about two dozen family and friends filled the Van Buren courtroom Tuesday morning.

They passed around pictures of the family and held on to Kleenex before the brief hearing even started.

Bentler walked into the courtroom wearing orange pants and an orange sweatshirt. Family members glared at him, some crying.

Those tears came heavier as the judge read the charges against Bentler. One count of first degree murder for each family member shot dead.

Five counts total, each with a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

Bentler is accused of shooting his parents Mike and Sandra, and three sisters Sheena, Shelby and Shayne.

They were killed early Saturday morning. Police in Illinois arrested Bentler on drug charges later in the morning.

He was brought back here to Van Buren County Monday and was in court Tuesday morning.

Bentler's bond is set at $2.5 million.

Funeral services for the slain family in Bonaparte are finalized.

Hofbauer-Schmitz-Lynk Funeral Home in Farmington says the funeral for the Bentler family will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19 at Harmony High School.

Visitation, which will also be held at the high school, will be Wednesday evening.

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