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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.
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