Trial reset for Marion dad charged with killing his 5-year-old son

CEDAR RAPIDS -- A judge said Friday he would reset the murder trial of a Marion father charged with strangling his 5-year-old son last October, giving the prosecution and defense more time to prepare.

Matthew Gerald Schleier, 46, plans to claim insanity and will have one or more expert witnesses testify at trial, according to motions filed by his Iowa City lawyer, Leon Spies.

Sixth Judicial District Judge David Cox, during a pretrial hearing, asked Assistant Linn County Attorney Jordan Schier if he wanted a continuance in light of the defense calling experts -- because the prosecution would likely want to have its own experts testify.

Schier agreed he would need more time for those witnesses.

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The trial previously was set for May 6. Cox said he would hold a scheduling conference with the lawyers to come up with a new date.

Deadly attack on preschooler

Schleier, who was charged with first-degree murder, told Marion investigators he had thoughts for a week leading up to Oct. 29, 2024, of killing his preschooler, according to criminal complaint. That night, he had been up “trying to decide” if and how to kill the child.

He had thought about using knives, which police said they found in his bedroom as they collected evidence on a search warrant at the home in the 4100 block of Willowbrook Drive in Marion.

The evidence of knives indicated Schleier was “premeditating” his actions, the complaint said.

Police received a 911 call about 5:57 a.m. Oct. 29 for an unresponsive 5-year-old “who wasn’t breathing and was warm to the touch,” according to a criminal complaint. Marion Fire Department medics started lifesaving measures and then police assisted.

Linn County Attorney Nick Maybanks previously said the initial investigation revealed Schleier strangled his son until the child became nonresponsive. “Sadly, lifesaving efforts failed and the child died,” Maybanks said.

The paramedics asked the child’s mother, Victoria Schleier, a kindergartner teacher at the St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Marion, how she found her son, Jack. The mother said, “His dad strangled him,” the complaint stated.

An officer asked Matthew Schleier if his wife was correct and he confirmed that he strangled Jack, the complaint stated.

Police, in a news release, said at the time of the killing two other adults and an additional child were present. None of them were physically harmed.

Chris McCarville, president of Xavier Catholic Schools, in a letter to the schools’ families, wrote, “It is with deep sadness that we share with you the news of the passing of St. Joseph preschool student, Jack Schleier, son of St. Joseph kindergarten teacher, Victoria Schleier. Jack's joyful spirit touched many in our community, and he will be greatly missed.”

Schleier served as an executive with the United Fire Group. The company announced in 2023 that he was promoted to a vice president in the Cedar Rapids branch. He wrote on his LinkedIn online business profile that he had became the company’s assistant vice president of field operations and agency resources.

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