Manchester murder suspect to appear in court today

A 17-year-old accused of killing his grandparents over the weekend in Manchester will make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Clayton County Courthouse.

17-year-old Isaiah Sweet faces two counts of first-degree murder. Authorities say Isaiah killed Janet Sweet, 62, and Richard Sweet, 55, of Manchester, over the weekend. Sweet admitted to killing his grandparents to three people over the weekend, according to the arrest warrant filed Monday in Delaware County District Court.

The Sweets' bodies were found Sunday afternoon at their home, 109 Deann Dr., when relatives arrived for a Mother's Day gathering. Isaiah Sweet also lived at the home.

The hunt for Isaiah came to an end just after 7 p.m. Monday after his arrest in a wooded area in northeast Cedar Rapids. Sweet was taken into custody following a short foot chase with officers along railroad tracks just south of Blairs Ferry Road NE, between Center Point Road and Council Street, police said. Officers spent nearly two hours searching the area following a tip that he was in the area. The search for Isaiah spanned three counties.

Sweet was being held on a $1 million cash-only bond.

A $1,000 reward for information leading to Sweet's capture was offered by CrimeStoppers in Iowa City, where police had held him on unrelated charges Sunday morning.

TIMELINE of Manchester murder case (story continues below timeline):

Isaiah Sweet, double murder suspect on Dipity.

Sweet admitted to killing his grandparents to three people over the weekend, according to the arrest warrant filed Monday in Delaware County District Court.

First, he told a woman over the phone Friday that he had drugged his grandparents and he thought they were dead because he could not find a pulse. He called her back on Saturday and confirmed his grandparents were dead.

Another witness told police she met Sweet on Saturday and he returned on Sunday, asking her to help him find a place to stay. He told her then that he had killed his grandparents and told her “not to be scared.”

A third witness said Sweet had called him Saturday and told him he was “on the run” because he had killed his grandparents.

According to the complaint, Janet and Richard Sweet were believed to be alive early Friday night. A phone call was made from Janet Sweet's cell phone about 6:24 p.m., Friday, and Richard Sweet was seen by a neighbor about 7:30 p.m.

Authorities said autopsies were conducted Monday by the State Medical Examiner's Office in Ankeny, but the causes of deaths were not released.

RECENT Tweets from Isaiah Sweet's account:

[View the story "Recent tweets from Isaiah Sweet" on Storify]

COURT DOCUMENTS from the Manchester murder case:

Sweet Complaint