Police: Mother Tried To Kill Son Before Killing Herself
Pastor Dale Morgan
Police: Mother Tried To Kill Son Before Killing Herself*
Tad Davis, KCCI.com
POSTED: 3:29 pm CST January 24, 2008
UPDATED: 6:24 pm CST January 24, 2008
ANKENY, Iowa -- For days after Ankeny mother Sheila Tegtmeier was found
dead in her home on Jan. 4, police would say only that it was a
complicated case.
"We have a pretty clear understanding of what happened in the residence,
but we're not yet able to give a conclusion based on an opinion," Capt.
Greg Throckmorton said eight days later.
On Thursday, they laid out in elaborate detail the story of how the
clinically depressed Tegtmeier carefully made sure she was home alone
with her 20-year-old autistic son, tried unsuccessfully to kill him and
then committed suicide.
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Investigators said on Jan. 4, Tegtmeier called Ankeny Schools at 7:30
a.m. and said her son Rory Jr. was sick and she cancelled his bus
pickup. Tegtmeier also called a siding company that was coming to work
on her home and told them not to come because of a family matter. She
then called her husband at his Ames office and left a message that she
could not keep their 11 a.m. lunch appointment.
Police said following her phone calls Tegtmeier went to an upstairs
bathroom and attempted to strangle her son with a cord.
During interviews with Rory Jr., 20, who has autism, investigators
learned that Rory Jr. struggled to get free from the cord and forcefully
pushed his mother away. He then hid in the basement, later telling
investigators he was scared of his mother.
Rory Jr. told investigators he then heard a loud noise and rushed back
upstairs to find his mother on the kitchen floor. Police said she had
taken her own life by strangling herself.
Rory Sr. called home at 4:36 p.m. to talk to Sheila, but instead Rory
Jr. answered and said, "mommy was dead."
Rory Sr. called his brother-in-law who immediately drove to the home and
discovered that Tegtmeier was indeed dead. He called 911 at 4:48 p.m.
When police arrived they found Sheila on the kitchen floor with ligature
marks around her neck and blood on her face. Police learned that her son
was home at the time and started to slowly piece together what had happened.
Rory Jr. also had blood on his clothing and ligature marks around his neck.
Outside worried neighbors had gathered trying to learn what happened and
if a killer was on the loose.
Police said they could offer little information until they completed
more interviews with Rory Jr., which were difficult because of his autism.
Court documents describe Rory as "autistic and functioned at a low level
of intelligence."
Police recognized the marks around Rory's neck, but didn't immediately
know who had tried to strangle him.
During the meetings with Rory Jr. that followed, more details about what
happened finally came out.
Court documents show that when an officer asked Rory who put the marks
on his neck, "He told me that they were put there by his mom. I
continued to speaking with Rory, but it was very difficult to carry on a
conversation with him or follow through on his thoughts or statements."
The officer quoted Rory as saying, "His mom was mad, and then he said
she was sad," according to court documents.
Investigators said they have conclusively determined that Tegtmeier took
her own life on Jan 4. following her attempt to strangle her son.
Police said medical records show that Tegtmeier was receiving treatment
for depression and had been receiving treatment since 2005.
Statement from Mr. Rory Tegtmeier Sr.
On January 4 Sheila Tegtmeier lost her battle with the pervasive and
debilitating illness of depression and our family lost a dear and
precious family member. Sheila was a loving and devoted military wife of
almost 25 years, a doting mother of her two sons, a caring daughter and
sister, and the friend that everyone wishes they were. Sheila is loved
by many and missed by all.
A lifelong care giver to her family, other military spouses and to those
with special needs; Sheila gave all she had to give to whoever was in
need. Forever a small town Iowa farm girl at heart, Sheila gave as long
as she could, as best as she could, never asking or accepting anything
in return. We believe that Sheila's ongoing battle with depression had
left her very tired and confused and unable to help herself. We take
comfort in knowing that Sheila was a loving and beautiful person and is
now, at last, at peace.
Finally, our family wishes to thank the many friends, neighbors, and
co-workers for their generous support, many sympathies, and the great
kindness they have give us during this difficult time. We also wish to
thank the Ankeny Police and many other agencies for their compassion and
steadfast professionalism.
Rory K. Tegtmeier Colonel, USA (retired)