More details released about Iowa City murders

More information has been released about Steven Sueppel, who killed his wife and four children before dying himself in a fiery car crash. Apparently Sueppel first tried to kill his family by carbon monoxide poisoning, and when that didn’t work he went on a rampage with a baseball bat:

Sueppel succeeded in killing himself early Monday in a fiery crash, police said, but only after leaving a note and voice mails at his home and at the offices of relatives and co-workers, explaining his actions.

Authorities disclosed details Tuesday of the hours before Sueppel, accused of stealing $560,000 from his bank, rammed the family van into the concrete base of a highway sign about 9 miles east of Iowa City. Sueppel died when the van erupted in flames, police said.

Starting about 11:30 p.m. Sunday, Sueppel, 42, began leaving voice mails at the offices of relatives and ex-colleagues apologizing profusely, saying the shame he brought on his family was too much to bear, Iowa City police said.

“The statements went toward the children and wife being in a better place,” Sgt. Troy Kelsay said. “But it’s pretty personal, and I’m not comfortable commenting more on that.”