Two experts say Marion man couldn’t understand right from wrong when he killed his son

CEDAR RAPIDS — Two additional defense experts testified Friday that a Marion man didn’t understand right from wrong when he strangled his 5-year-old son in October 2024.

Matthew Gerald Schleier, 46, is being tried this week on a first-degree murder charge in Linn County District Court.

He is claiming insanity as his defense, so the burden of proof switched from the prosecution to the defense to prove that Schleier was legally insane at the time he killed his son, Jack, on Oct. 29, 2024, in the family’s Marion home.

Both experts on Friday testified Schleier suffered from a disease or deranged mind and agreed he could not distinguish right from wrong.

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Both also said Schleier could “appreciate” the nature and quality of the act — that is, he could understand his actions would kill Jack.

To prove legal insanity in Iowa law, a defendant must either prove by a preponderance of evidence he couldn’t distinguish right from wrong or that he couldn’t appreciate the nature and quality of the act.

Another expert witness testified Thursday, giving a similar opinion for the defense.

The defense rested Friday after their experts testified, and closing arguments will be Monday. Schleier opted for a bench — or non-jury — trial, so 6th Judicial District Judge David Cox will decide the verdict. He may take weeks or months to provide his written verdict.

Schleier faces up to life in prison if convicted.

The prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Schleier had intent to kill his son and that it was premeditated, along with the other elements of a first-degree murder charge.

According to testimony this week, Schleier told police he understood strangling his son would cause death and take away Schleier’s freedom. He told police he had been thinking about killing Jack and his 7-year-old daughter for about two weeks and thought about it 24/7 leading up to Oct. 29, 2024.

Schleier was obsessed about his children’s severe food allergies and thought they would die from them, according to testimony.

Expert opinions

Dr. Lauren K. Robinson, a physician in both general and forensic psychiatry in Chicago, testified Schleier has a long history of mental health issues. He had been functioning well for years after first being diagnosed with anxiety in college, but stress from work in 2022 seemed to set off his anxiety again.

Robinson said Schleier was misdiagnosed with attention deficient hyperactivity disorder, and providers took him off his antianxiety medication, which contributed to his gradual decline.

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Leon Spies, Schleier’s lawyer, asked Robinson about the other medications Schleier had been prescribed.

Robinson said different providers prescribed various medications but none of them had time to work before they were changed or another one was added.

Spies asked what her diagnosis was for Schleier.

She said Schleier suffered from major depressive disorder, which can include symptoms of sleep disturbances, lack of interest, guilt, hopelessness, low energy, agitation and suicidal thoughts. Robinson said not everyone has all the symptoms but Schleier’s episode was severe in October 2024.

Schleier also had psychotic depression, which is when someone has nihilistic delusions about doom, death and disease, Robinson testified. He developed a psychosis that his children were doomed to death because of their food allergies. Schleier was convinced they were going to die in agony.

“He believed not if, but when,” Robinson said.

Robinson also diagnosed Schleier with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder. He was obsessed with the health and safety of his family.

Schleier was in a major depressive episode for weeks, leading up to the killing of his son. He became “psychotic and lost touch with reality,” she testified.

He didn’t tell anyone about his thoughts because people usually feel ashamed and scared they are having those thoughts, she said.

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On Oct. 28 and 29, 2024, his delusion was at the “fullest and strongest.” He was alone in the middle of night, detached from reality and having an internal struggle about whether to kill his children. He focused on Jack because he had the most severe food allergies.

Robinson said Schleier was in a psychosis state when he strangled Jack and under a delusional conviction while committing the act.

Robinson said Schleier had a disease, or deranged mind, and couldn’t distinguish right from wrong. At the same time, Schleier did understand what he was doing — that strangling Jack would kill him.

On cross-examination, Robinson said she couldn’t say with a degree of certainty when Schleier went into the delusion or psychosis.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier, in an attempt to show premeditation, asked at what point Schleier could not distinguish between right from wrong. Was it before or after he took the knives from the kitchen and then decided to instead use his hands to kill his son? Was it weeks before when he first had thoughts of killing his children?

Robinson said she couldn’t say exactly at what point that happened because he was overall under the delusion.

UIHC professor testifies

Daniel Tranel, a clinical neuropsychologist and professor with University of Iowa Health Care, diagnosed Schleier with major depressive disorder with psychotic features — fixed beliefs that aren’t based in reality — and psychosis. He also diagnosed Schleier with generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder.

Tranel said Schleier didn’t tell his family or health care providers about having homicidal thoughts because it was a line he didn’t think he would cross. And he believed he was saving his son by killing him — that was his delusion.

Schleier couldn’t distinguish right from wrong but did a have a basic understanding that he was killing his son.

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On cross-examination, Schier asked if Schleier didn’t want to tell anyone his homicidal thoughts out of fear of repercussions. Tranel replied, “Possibly.”

Schier asked if it was possible that Schleier, when he started to strangle Jack, didn’t know right from wrong but could have distinguished that before he did the act.

Tranel said that was possible. After Schleier killed Jack, he may have been able to understand right from wrong. That could explain why he didn’t kill his daughter because he knew it was wrong, he said.

Schier asked Tranel if Schleier knew right from wrong and the consequences of his actions when he talked to police about two hours after his son died and admitted he’d strangled his son. Tranel agreed that he did.

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

Comments: (319) 398-8318; trish.mehaffey@thegazette.com