In the quiet landscape of western Iowa, the life of 81-year-old Alice Huisenga, a White female, came to a violent and tragic end on Monday, March 10, 2014. Her body was discovered on a property near Deloit in Crawford County, a place where a trailer home and a truck had been deliberately set on fire. Alongside her was her longtime friend, 80-year-old Marvin Huesling, who was also a victim of the brutal crime.
Investigators from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation were called to
the scene, and it was quickly determined that the two deaths were no accident. The state medical examiner concluded that Huisenga's death was the result of "homicidal violence," while Huesling had died from multiple gunshot wounds. The grim discovery sent shockwaves through the rural community, as friends and family were left to grapple with the senseless loss of two of their elderly residents.
The investigation swiftly led to the apprehension of three suspects from the nearby town of Denison. Authorities arrested 26-year-old Michael Schenk, 19-year-old Jayden Chapman, and 36-year-old Erika Haberberger-Dains in connection with the double homicide. The motive for this horrific crime appeared to be the theft of scrap metal from Huesling's property. It is believed that the victims, who were described as acquaintances of the suspects, confronted them during the attempted theft, leading to a fatal confrontation. All three suspects were subsequently charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson and were held in the Crawford County Jail.
