Bentler's Grandmother Takes Stand in his Defense

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By Becky Ogann

Story Created: May 10, 2007 at 3:33 PM CST

Story Updated: May 10, 2007 at 7:36 PM CST

KEOSAUQUA - The defense takes over in the Bentler trial and the defendant's grandmother says that if Shawn Bentler had family problems, he never told her.

Bentler faces five charges of first degree murder in the shooting deaths of his entire family last fall.

The defense won't say for sure but it appears unlikely that Shawn Bentler will take the stand himself. So character testimony came from others who knew him well, like his grandmother.

Julia Mendez is the mother of victim Sandra Bentler. And she told the judge she spent a lot of time with defendant Shawn Bentler and the other children when they were growing up.

She described him as polite and said that he was never a mean child. But his grandmother says she didn't see Shawn as much once he left the family home in Bonaparte in 2002. The defense also called some Quincy, Ill., police officers to testify.

Two officers staked out Bentler's Illinois home just hours after Iowa authorities found five bodies.

When Bentler left on a motorcycle, they stopped him on a traffic warrant until Iowa investigators could question him about the murders.

One of the officers said that before Iowa investigators arrived, he asked Bentler if he had the money to post bond for the Illinois traffic warrant.

He said Bentler replied that he'd have to call his parents.

The defense expects to call anywhere between one and three final witnesses Friday. Prosecutors may call some rebuttal witnesses too.

But final arguments should start sometime Friday afternoon.

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