In the quiet community of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a devastating event unfolded on February 24, 2015, ending the life of 44-year-old Sherry Marie Higgins Haferbecker. A Caucasian female, Sherry was a beloved figure known for her warm smile and dedication to her work as the Head Custodian at Prairie Hill Elementary School. Her sudden absence from her job one Tuesday morning raised immediate concern among her colleagues, setting in motion a series of events that would reveal a tragedy within her own
home.
Concerned when Sherry didn't arrive for her shift, school officials contacted the authorities. The Cedar Rapids Police Department also received two disconnected 911 calls that morning. Officers were dispatched to her residence at 731 Memorial Drive SE to conduct a welfare check. Upon entering the home, they made a grim discovery. Sherry and her 45-year-old husband, Mitchell Wade Haferbecker, were both found deceased inside.
The preliminary investigation by law enforcement quickly determined the sequence of events. Investigators concluded that Mitchell Haferbecker had used a handgun to shoot and kill his wife, Sherry. He then turned the weapon on himself, ending his own life in a tragic murder-suicide. At the time of the incident, Mitchell, who also worked as a custodian for the College Community School District, had been placed on administrative leave.
Sherry was remembered fondly by those who knew her. A 1989 graduate of Washington High School in Vinton, she was active in the school band and was described as a sweet and friendly person who was always smiling. Beyond her custodial duties, Sherry was passionately involved with the school's therapy dog program, serving as the handler for a black Labrador named Primos. She was not only a volunteer but also covered the dog's expenses, a testament to her caring nature. She is survived by her two daughters and four brothers.
