In the quiet, rural landscape near Deloit, Iowa, the life of 80-year-old Marvin Huelsing, a White male, came to a tragic and violent end on March 10, 2014. A lifelong farmer who also trucked cattle, Huelsing was a familiar and friendly face in the Carroll and Crawford County areas, known for his love of conversation and his down-to-earth nature. He and his wife, Madelyn, had built a life on the land, raising both grain and livestock.
The events that led to his death began with a plan to
steal scrap metal from his property. Three individuals, 20-year-old Jayden Chapman, 26-year-old Michael Schenk, and 36-year-old Erica Dains, all from Denison, had driven to Huelsing's farmstead after using methamphetamine. Their intention was to pilfer scrap metal, but their plan took a dark turn when their truck became stuck in the mud. This unforeseen complication led to a confrontation that would have fatal consequences for both Marvin Huelsing and 81-year-old Alice Huisenga, who was also present at the property.
In the ensuing events, both Huelsing and Huisenga were shot and killed. To conceal their crimes, the perpetrators set fire to a mobile home on the property with the victims' bodies inside. The investigation into the double homicide and arson quickly led law enforcement to the three suspects. Erica Dains eventually pleaded guilty to second-degree burglary and accessory after the fact, agreeing to testify against her co-defendants.
The trials of Jayden Chapman and Michael Schenk brought the grim details of the murders to light. Both men were ultimately found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder. Schenk was also convicted of arson for his role in setting the fire to cover up the killings. Chapman, however, was found guilty of the lesser charge of reckless use of fire. The convictions brought a measure of justice for the senseless deaths of Marvin Huelsing and Alice Huisenga, with both Chapman and Schenk facing mandatory life sentences in prison.
