When a family is slaughtered inside their tent at a popular Iowa park during the summer of 2022, news of the tragedy spreads far and wide. The killer spared one lone member of the Schmidt family, a young boy. The motive behind the crime remains elusive, even to those closest to the perpetrator.
The Schmidt Family (Source) Go Fund Me
(from left to right)
Tyler
Sarah
Arlo
Lula
Anthony Sherwin (Source) DPS Iowa
Maquoketa Caves State Park Crime Scene Images (Source) AP News
Maquoketa Caves State Park Crime Scene Images (Source) AP News
Maquoketa Caves State Park Crime Scene Images (Source) AP News
Maquoketa Caves State Park Crime Scene Images (Source) AP News
Maquoketa Caves State Park Map (Source) Google Maps
Maquoketa Caves State Park Image (Source) Iowa DNR
Episode Source Material
- WHO 13 (Des Moines, IA): Triple homicide investigated at state park campground, by Dan Hendrickson.
- Iowa Department of Public Safety: UPDATE: NAMES OF MAQUOKETA TRIPLE-HOMICIDE VICTIMS RELEASED, by Mitch Mortvedt.
- NBC News: Two adults and a child fatally shot at Iowa state park campground; suspect also dead, by David K. Li.
- Our Quad Cities (Davenport, IA): Brother of Maquoketa shooting victim says it was ‘a complete random act’, by Dustin Nolan, Bryan Bobb, Trae Harris, Matt Holderman.
- AP News (New York, NY): Police: 3 fatally shot at Iowa state park; gunman also dead, by Ryan J. Foley and Margery A. Beck.
- AP News (New York, NY): Parents, 6-year-old girl fatally shot in tent at Iowa park, by Amy Forliti.
- The Courier (Cedar Falls, IA): ‘The Midwestern family that we all would want to be’: Loved ones remember family slain at Maquoketa Caves, by Donald Promnitz.
- USA Today: Maquoketa Caves State Park camper heard a scream and a loud noise near site of triple homicide, by Tyler Jett (Des Moines Register).
- Des Moines Register (Des Moines Register): ‘I can’t believe this is happening’: Family, friends mourn the Schmidts, killed at Maquoketa Caves State Park, by Francesca Block.
- Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, NE): Update: 9-year-old Cedar Falls boy survives attack at Maquoketa Caves State Park, by Molly Ashford and Ryan Hoffman.
- Des Moines Register (Des Moines, IA): What we know about the Maquoketa Caves State Park shooting in Iowa, by Des Moines Register.
- The Washington Post (Washington, D.C.): 9-year-old survived Iowa campground attack that killed family, mayor says, by Bryan Pietsch and Meena Venkataramanan.
- Our Quad Cities (Davenport, IA): Woman called 911 after alerted to Maquoketa Caves shooting by boy, by Matt Holderman.
- 3 News Now (Omaha, NE): Suspected gunman’s motive in Iowa park killings remains a mystery, by Ryan J. Foley and Margery A. Beck.
- WHO 13 (Des Moines, IA): DCI: Killer stayed in tent 75 yards away from Iowa family he later attacked, by Dave Price.
- Our Quad Cities (Davenport, IA): ‘This was completely random’: Brother of Maquoketa victims speaks out about tragedy, by Matt Holderman.
- Papillion Times (Bellevue, NE): Mother of suspected gunman from La Vista says family is ‘deeply saddened’, by Molly Ashford and Ryan Hoffman.
- AP News (New York, NY): Iowa park where man killed couple, their daughter to reopen, by Associated Press.
- Des Moines Register (Des Moines, IA): ‘Celebration of Life’ event planned for Schmidt family, victims in Maquoketa Caves shooting, by Grace Altenhofen and Francesca Block.
- KHQA (Hannibal, MO): Report: “Ghost gun” used in Maquoketa Caves State Park triple homicide, by Iowa’s News Now Staff.
- Iowa Department of Public Safety: Update: Autopsies completed in Maquoketa Caves State Park triple homicide, by Mitch Mortvedt.
- AP News (New York, NY): Autopsy: Family killed at Iowa park shot, stabbed, strangled, by Margery A. Beck.
- The Courier (Cedar Falls, IA): Motive still elusive in campground slaying, by Jeff Reinitz.
- KWWL (Waterloo, IA): Dubuque Coalition for Non-Violence organization holds rally against upcoming state gun amendment, by KWWL.
- Associated Press via US News: Iowa Voters Add Gun Rights to State Constitution, by David Pitt.
- Iowa Department of Natural Resources Website