DES MOINES, Iowa (Reuters) - A former bank executive facing trial for embezzlement beat to death his wife and the couple's four adopted children before killing himself by ramming his car into a highway sign post, police said on Tuesday.
Investigators in Iowa City provided details of the tragedywhich came to light on Monday when the bodies of SherylSueppel, 42, and the couple's children ranging in age from 3 to10 were found in their house on a quiet suburban street.
Police said Steven Sueppel placed an emergency call to themtelling them to go to the house not long before he rammed hiscar into the base of an overhead sign on a nearby highway. Thecar burst into flames and his body was not positivelyidentified until Tuesday.
Police Chief Samuel Hargadine said Sueppel left a writtennote and other messages behind which indicated that he killedhis wife first and then the children. A baseball bat may havebeen used in the beatings.
Sueppel, 42, a former vice president and controller of theHills Bank & Trust, was indicted on February 12 forembezzlement and money laundering and was facing trial nextmonth.
Authorities say nearly $560,000 (279,656 pounds) wasmissing from the bank as a result of thefts that had occurredover several years, and records indicated he may have stolen atleast in part to pay for cocaine.
The children had been adopted from Asia, with one of themonly recently joining the family.
(Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
