On November 5, 1996, Larry Buttz, 41, shot his wife and two children to death in their beds and then killed himself.

A resident of Iowa, a month before the murder-suicide, Larry was charged with simple assault after his wife filed a complaint.

The dead were identified as Larry's wife, Delane, 38, and their two children, Ryan, 15, and Lindsey, 12 as well as Larry.

The house where the shootings took place had worn wicker furniture and shriveled jack-o'-lanterns on the front porch left from Halloween.

Mayhem.net

Autopsy: Victims died while asleep

The Gazette (Cedar Rapids-Iowa City)

November 8, 1996

ANKENY (AP) - Autopsy results indicate Larry Buttz shot his 12-year-old daughter twice, killed his 15-year-old son and his wife with single shots, then killed himself, the Polk County medical examiner said.

Buttz, 41, daughter Lindsey, son Ryan and wife DeLane, 38, were found shot to death in their Ankeny home Tuesday morning. Investigators believe Larry Buttz shot his children, then his wife after finding out DeLane Buttz was having an affair.

"'I believe that they all died in their sleep," Dr. Francis Garrity said after autopsies were completed Wednesday.

Garrity said DeLane Buttz was struck in the front of the head with a blunt object before being shot in the back of the head. That has led investigators to believe that Larry Buttz might have incapacitated his wife before walking up to the bedroom shared by his children and shooting them, Garrity said.

Lindsey was shot twice, possibly indicating that Ryan was shot first when their father had more time to aim, Garrity said.

Ankeny police believe Larry Buttz called 911 at 6:16 a.m. Tuesday. Officers arrived about eight minutes later, finding the front door unlocked.

On Oct. 9, Larry Buttz was arrested and charged with simple assault after DeLane Buttz told police he had assaulted her in their home.