John Hebel Murder Case Overview

Nov 11, 2024

Lecture Notes on John Hebel Murder Case

Background Information

  • Location: North Liberty, Iowa
  • Victim: John Hebel, 28 years old, known to be a recluse.
  • Concerns: Mother reported him missing after not hearing from him for over two months.
  • Initial Discovery:
    • Sheriff found John's van parked, no response at door.
    • Odor of death detected inside trailer.
    • John found dead in a chair, covered by a blanket, shot twice in the back of the head with a .22 caliber pistol.

Crime Scene Analysis

  • Body Condition: Advanced decomposition indicating death occurred weeks prior to discovery.
  • Evidence:
    • No forced entry, trailer doors locked.
    • Missing: John’s gun collection (notably a customized Gold Cup .45 pistol) and his dog, Keisha.
    • Drug paraphernalia and small amount of marijuana found in the home.
  • Keisha's Condition:
    • Found a month later, clean and wandering miles away.
    • Leash was in John’s van, suggesting transportation after his death.

Timeline of Events

  • Body Found: February 1999.
  • Keisha Found: January 22, 1999, which coincides with the first unheard message on John's answering machine.
    • This indicates John was deceased around January 22 or 23.

Suspects

  • Primary Suspects: Mike Harding, Andrew Rich, Sharon Snyder.
    • Mike Harding:
      • Friend of John, seen near his home.
      • Alibi for time of murder and passed polygraph test.
    • Andrew Rich & Sharon Snyder:
      • Friends from Wyoming, visited John around January 18, 1999.
      • Found in possession of marijuana and .22 caliber bullets.
      • Bullet analysis showed no match with the bullets from John’s body.

Investigation Developments

  • Dog Evidence:
    • Keisha's unique nose print couldn’t be matched with smudges found in Richard's Jeep.
    • Dog DNA analysis from hair found in an ammunition box linked to Keisha, suggesting possession of stolen goods.
  • Sharon Snyder's Testimony:
    • Revealed that she dropped Andy off at John’s house before the murder and later saw Andy with John’s van.
    • Gave insight into Andy’s behavior and potential motives.

Key Forensic Evidence

  • Mitochondrial DNA Analysis:
    • Confirmed that hair found in ammunition box belonged to Keisha.
  • Handwriting Analysis:
    • Note listing customizations of the Gold Cup pistol matched John’s handwriting.
  • Witness Testimonies:
    • Accumulated evidence suggested a premeditated act driven by the desire for John’s guns.

Trial and Outcome

  • Confession:
    • Andy Rich confessed to killing John for his guns before the trial.
    • No remorse shown to John’s family.
  • Sentencing:
    • Rich pled guilty to first-degree robbery and voluntary manslaughter, sentenced to 35 years.
    • Sharon Snyder received a lesser sentence for drug possession in exchange for cooperation.

Conclusion

  • Role of Keisha:
    • Played a crucial part in solving the case; her evidence led to the conviction of Andy Rich.
    • The case highlights the importance of forensic science and animal evidence in criminal investigations.