Hints of Drugs in Family’s Slaying
Posted by Childress on October 14, 2006
Three teenage sisters, Sheena, Shelby and Shayne Bentler are dead — murdered — along with their parents, Michael and Sandra.
The only surviver of the Bonaparte, Iowa family is son Shawn, 24.
AP reports that he was arrested less than 60 miles away and charged with an unrelated crime — possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police are calling Shawn a suspect in the murder, but it’s obviously too early to draw conclusions. The description of Shawn in the Des Moines Register doesn’t hint at trouble:
Shawn Bentler also spent time at his dad’s side at the family business, said Dustin Troutman, 22, who has known Shawn since preschool and was a classmate in high school.
Shawn was a popular guy, had lots of friends, and was living in Quincy, Ill. with another classmate from Harmony High. He was learning a house design program that he had shown Dustin Troutman on his laptop.
Dustin’s mom, Peggy Troutman, who owns the Bonaparte Mercantile, said Shawn Bentler often popped into her store to say hello. “I’ve never seen him mad,” she said. “He’s always in a good mood when I’ve seen him.”
He always had a different girlfriend, she said. “He was quite the ladies’
man,” she said.Other friends said Shawn Bentler has fathered two children.
We’ll see what unfolds.
