Dad planned to kill his 5 year-old son for a week before strangling him, police say

MARION, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News) - A dad planned his 5-year-old son’s murder for a week before strangling him to death, according to police.

Matthew Schleier, 45, is charged with first-degree murder.

According to police, Marion Police officers were called to a home early Tuesday morning for a report of a 5-year-old boy who was not breathing.

At the scene, paramedics asked the mother how she found the child, who is only identified as “J.S.” The mother told paramedics “his dad strangled him.” An officer asked Schleier if that was true and he itted to strangling his son.

Paramedics performed life-saving measures on the boy and he was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Medical personnel noted bruising to the child’s neck that appeared consistent with strangulation.

During a formal interview with investigators, Schleier itted to strangling his son.

Schleier said had been up most of the night trying to decide how he was going to kill his son and that he had thoughts of killing the boy for a week. He also itted that he had thoughts ing knives to kill his son.

While executing a search warrant, investigators collected evidence, including knives, indicating Schleier was premeditating his actions.

Schleier is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

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