An Illinois man was found guilty Thursday of killing his parents and three teenage sisters at their southeastern Iowa home last fall.Judge Michael R. Mullins read the verdict in Van Buren County District Court. The courtroom was packed with about 100 family members and others.
Prosecutors argued that Shawn Bentler, 23, wanted to inherit money from the family's successful grain elevator and lumberyard businesses. They said that led Bentler to shoot his parents, Michael and Sandra, and teenage sisters, Sheena, Shelby and Shayne, with a .22 caliber rifle in the early morning hours of Oct. 14, 2006.
Prosecutors focused on a 911 call made from the Bentler home the night of the slayings. The call begins with Shayne saying her older brother was "going to do something," followed by the sound of his mother screaming, a gunshot and a scream "Shawn, no!" before the line goes dead.
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