Teen Kills Father of Six
tinydancer
below,
Johnston Teen Possibly Found Dead In Colorado
Car Matching Police Description Found Along Interstate 70
POSTED: 1:06 PM CST January 27, 2004
UPDATED: 6:36 PM CST January 28, 2004
JOHNSTON, Iowa -- A Johnston teenager who sparked a nationwide manhut has
apparently committed suicide in Colorado.
A car believed to be driven by Tyler Pirtle, 16, was found near Grand
Junction, Colo. Wednesday. Pirtle (pictured, left) was wanted as a material
witness in a double-homicide in Johnston.
State troopers first spotted the car when it sped past them on westbound
Interstate 70 near the Colorado-Utah border. After the driver veered about
50 yards off the road, a SWAT team was called in.
When officers approached the car, he found the driver dead from an apparent
self-inflicted gunshot wound.
James Gaddis, a reporter for KREX-TV in Grand Junction, was at the scene and
told NewsChannel 8 about the body.
Johnston Police Chief Bruce Gaddis (no relation) confirmed Colorado State
Patrol officers recovered a vehicle along Interstate 70 (pictured, right) in
Colorado that is similar to the car the suspect was driving. Gaddis would
not comment on the identity of the person found in the car.
The car was found about 11:45 a.m. CST Wednesday.
About the same time the car was recovered, Johnston police identified the
two gunshot victims found in a home Tuesday morning at 5852 Brentwood Circle
in Johnston.
a.. Greg Gaul, 41, is a juvenile caseworker in Des Moines. Tyler Pirtle was
one of his clients, and Gaul had been called to the home to check on the
teen.
a.. Sarah Dahlke, 21, from Marshalltown, was house-sitting at the time of
the shootings.
Chief Gaddis said both victims had gunshot wounds. Officials found the
bodies after being contacted by Dahlke's employer.
Dahlke was a part-time employee at Pioneer Hi-Bred. She graduated from Iowa
State University in December and was engaged to be married. Her engagement
picture appeared in the Iowa State Daily Wednesday.
Teenager Had Criminal Record
Chief Gaddis said they had been searching for Tyler Pirtle since Tuesday
night. Gaddis said Pirtle was wanted as a material witness and may have been
armed and dangerous. Gaddis also said Pirtle may try to injure himself.
Pirtle was believed to be driving a four-door 1995 red Mercury Mystique with
an Iowa license plate 134 LPK. The vehicle is registered to Gaul. A car
similar to this description was found along Interstate 70 near Grand
Junction, Colo.
Court records show that Pirtle was on probation after being charged with
driving his father's car without permission, and stealing and possessing
alcohol.
In August, Pirtle's probation officer wrote: "There is a serious risk that
the child ... may commit an act which would inflict serious bodily harm on
the child or another."
He also wrote that Pirtle "needs additional structure."
In October, his juvenile court officer wrote that Tyler continued to drink
and smoked pot. Pirtle was supposed to appear last week so a judge could
decide whether to revoke his probation. But, his father asked and was
granted a delay.
Court records also show that for the past three years, Pirtle's parents have
been involved with a bitter divorce. At first, Pirtle stayed with his
mother, who now lists a West Des Moines address, but later moved in with his
father, who, since the fall, has lived at the Johnston address (pictured,
left).
Police and counselors were at Johnston High School Wednesday morning, where
Pirtle is a student.
Homicides In Quiet Neighborhood
Brentwood Circle is an affluent area, and neighbor Rosario Rodriguez said
it's usually a very quiet neighborhood.
Tuesday morning, the quiet was disrupted with about a dozen police and other
official vehicles. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, a medical
examiner and Polk County officials spent the day at the Johnston house.
Chief Gaddis said Johnston police are also receiving assistance from
officers in Clive, Urbandale, Windsor Heights and West Des Moines.
The home in question was recently sold. The former owner told NewsChannel 8
that the home was bought by Matt Pirtle, 47, and Sarah Collinson in October,
and that Pirtle's teenage son, Tyler, also lived in the home.
Neighbors told KCCI they believed the elder Pirtle and Collinson are on
vacation in the Cayman Islands. They have been informed of the situation.
After authorities found the bodies, they did not enter the home for many
hours while waiting for a judge to issue a search warrant.
Dedicated Counselor
Gaul worked at the children's facility Orchard Place from 1985 to 2000.
Co-workers say he was a dedicated counselor. Gaul also worked with the PACE
program, and later went into private practice.
Colleagues say he'll be missed.
"He was dedicated to children. He just had a way with them. He went above
and beyond for children," said Orchard Place's Carolyn Hejtmanek.
Gaul is also described as a dedicated member of Holy Trinity Church and a
talented singer and musician.
Greg Gaul leaves behind a wife, Nan, and six children, the eldest is 10
years old.
A memorial fund has been established for Gaul's family (pictured, above).
Contributions can be made to:
Greg Gaul Memorial Fund
First American Bank
2805 Beaver Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50310
http://www.theiowachannel.com/news/2796797/detail.html