Marion dad told police he understood strangling would kill 5-year-old son but he couldn’t stop

CEDAR RAPIDS — A Marion father, who is charged with fatally strangling his 5-year-old son, told police investigators in a second interview he didn’t think about the consequences of killing until “I was sitting in the (jail) cell.”

Matthew Gerald Schleier, 46, on trial this week in Linn County District Court on a first-degree murder charge, said he understood that strangling his son, Jack, would cause death and take away his freedom, but he couldn’t stop thinking about it. He couldn’t let go of the thoughts in his head on Oct. 29, 2024.

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Schleier, in a video-recorded interview with police, said he thought it would stop “their pain” — both Jack and his 7-year-old daughter — who had food allergies. He had the thoughts 24/7 since he had tried checking himself into a hospital Oct. 5, 2024, because his anxiety had become too much for him.

The hospital didn’t admit him because he didn’t have a plan to kill himself, but doctors did prescribe him an antipsychotic medication, Schleier said, implying the medication was to blame for his actions.

Schleier said he understood killing his son didn’t make sense but he thought Jack would be better off because of his numerous food allergies.

In the first interview with police, he said he was overwhelmed with trying to manage how to keep Jack safe.

Schleier, more than once, said he was “stuck” in those thoughts and couldn’t stop them but that he never told his wife or anybody else about his thoughts on taking his children’s lives. He said his thoughts “scared” him.

Trial testimony started Tuesday, and prosecutors rested their case Wednesday.

Schleier is claiming insanity as his defense and opted for a bench — or non-jury — trial, so 6th Judicial District Judge David Cox will decide the verdict.

Testimony is expected to wrap up Friday, and the judge will provide a written verdict, which could take three or four months.

Strangling more ‘humane’

Schleier, in the video, said he was in Jack’s bedroom for two or three hours on that October night, thinking about harming him. He thought about using knives, which he retrieved from the kitchen — a filet knife and “meat cleaver” — but chose strangling because, he said, it was more “humane.”

Marion Sgt. Investigator Tom Peterson asked why he chose to kill Jack and not his daughter.

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Schleier replied, “I couldn’t do that to my daughter.” Her allergies were less complicated than Jack’s, he added.

In his second interview, Schleier did break down, tearing up and crying, unlike the first interview where he showed no emotion when talking about strangling his son.

He declined to show the investigators how he had strangled his son, whether he used one hand or two.

“I screwed up. I’ve been crazy for a while,” Schleier said, tearing up. “I know my boy is at peace and in heaven and doesn’t have allergies.”

During the interview, Investigator Jamie Arnold asked if it had helped or relieved Schleier after he had strangled his son. Schleier said no, it hadn’t.

Schleier also started crying when he called his wife from the police department after the interview, which was also recorded.

He repeatedly told his wife, Victoria, “I’m so sorry.” He asked her to forgive him.

Victoria said she “loves him” and “I know that wasn’t you.”

Peterson, after the video played, testified that Schleier understood police questioning and gave appropriate answers. Schleier understood what he had done, the consequences and had a plan because he chose strangulation over using a knife, he said.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier asked if Schleier was more concerned about how allergies affected his life, rather than his children’s lives. Peterson agreed.

On cross-examination, Peterson agreed Schleier had said keeping his children safe was overwhelming for him. He’d said his anxiety told him Jack would be better off if he were dead.

Autopsy

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Dr. Rory Deol, an associate state medical examiner, testified about the autopsy and identified photos of Jack’s injuries. Jack had multiple injuries to the left side of his neck, some on the right side and linear bruising, which was consistent with manual strangling.

Assistant Linn County Attorney Alex Anderson asked how long would it take for someone being strangled to lose consciousness and die.

Deol said force would have to be applied 10 to 30 seconds to lose consciousness and 90 seconds to five minutes to cause death.

Deol said the cause of death was manual strangulation and the manner of death was homicide.

The prosecution rested after Deol’s testimony.

Defense starts

The defense started its case Wednesday afternoon with testimony from two members of Schleier’s family. On Thursday, more family members and two or three experts are scheduled to testify about Schleier’s state of mind.

Gerry Schleier, Matthew’s father, a retired dentist from Keokuk, testified about his son’s education, career and how he developed anxiety in college.

Gerry said his son was “everything a dad would want in a son.” He played basketball and baseball. He was a good student and enjoyed science. Matthew was “smart” and initially thought about following in his dad’s footsteps but switched to a business degree.

He attended Wartburg College in Waverly and the University of Iowa but had to take breaks from college life at times because of anxiety issues, Gerry Schleier said. He also had to give up sports because of those problems.

His son continued to have mental health issues throughout his life, the elder Schleier said. When Matthew was working for an insurance company in Wisconsin, he started having muscle twitches, believed it was ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and became obsessed about the disease, which Matthew’s mother died of. After Matthew checked himself into a hospital, he was prescribed medication for anxiety since he didn’t have ALS.

Matthew also had anxiety about renovations at his father’s house when contractors found asbestos, and his son went on a “crusade” to get rid of it. Even after it was removed, Matthew wouldn’t go into his father’s home or take his family there to visit.

“He was always consumed about safety for his kids and wife,” Gerry said.

Schleier said Matthew became emotionally distraught in October 2024. He was upset by changes at his workplace and he couldn’t keep up with work and had to take time off.

Schleier talked or exchanged messages with Matthew every day. He knew his son was struggling. Matthew would sob on the phone. Gerry also observed Matthew hitting himself on the side of the head, saying, “My brain is broken.”

Leon Spies, Schleier’s lawyer, asked his opinion as to why his son killed Jack.

Gerry Schleier said his son wasn’t stable and didn’t make good decisions. His depression was “spiraling.” The “illness,” he said, was responsible for the killing.

On cross-examination, Schier said Matthew wasn’t afraid to share his struggles over the years and even told his father about his suicidal thoughts. But he never told him about him his thoughts about killing his children.

Victoria Schleier, Schleier’s wife, said her husband thought about the food allergies all the time. She was managing the restrictions.

They knew what Jack’s allergies were, had EpiPens and had been trained on using them, but her husband was concerned other allergies would develop. He became concerned about peas — one of Jack’s allergies — being added to many foods and sometimes not listed on food products, she said.

Spies also asked Victoria why her husband had killed Jack.

Victoria said he couldn’t manage Jack’s food allergies and understand it would be OK. He wasn’t thinking clearly. He thought he needed to do it. He wasn’t “in his right mind.”

On cross-examination, Schier, the prosecutor, asked why didn’t her husband tell her about his thoughts of killing Jack.

“Do you think he hid it from you because he knew it was wrong,” Schier asked.

Victoria replied, “I don’t know.”

Trish Mehaffey covers state and federal courts for The Gazette

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