In the quiet community of Decorah, Iowa, the life of 55-year-old Craig Freilinger, a White male, came to a tragic and violent end on Sunday, October 16, 2016. What initially appeared to be a double shooting at a mobile home court in Freeport, just to the east of Decorah, was later determined by the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Office to be a murder-suicide. The events of that evening left two people dead and a community in shock.
Deputies were dispatched to the scene after receiving reports of multiple gunshots around 6:30 p.m. Upon their arrival, they discovered the bodies of Freilinger and his 41-year-old ex-girlfriend, Sarah Szabo. The couple had reportedly ended their relationship recently. An extensive investigation followed, involving the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Winneshiek County Attorney's Office, and numerous other local and state agencies. The investigation included autopsies by the State Medical Examiner, the execution of multiple search warrants, and numerous interviews.
The evidence gathered by investigators painted a grim picture of the final moments for Freilinger and Szabo. The investigation concluded that Freilinger shot Szabo multiple times, resulting in her death, which was ruled a homicide. Afterward, Freilinger died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. His death was consequently ruled a suicide. The case was closed with Freilinger identified as the sole suspect in Szabo's murder, and no further arrests were made.
