Friend Says Teen Threatened to Kill
tinydancer
Johnston slayings among seven in past week
By LISA LIVERMORE
Register Correspondent
01/30/2004
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A 15-year-old boy said his friend, Tyler Pirtle, 16, threatened to kill a
housesitter when the two teens talked on the phone Monday, a day before
authorities found two people shot to death in Pirtle's Johnston home.
Investigators Tuesday found the bodies of Greg Gaul, 41, a private social
worker who had been Pirtle's therapist, and Sarah Dahlke, 21, who was
watching the home while Pirtle's father and the woman he lived with were
away on vacation.
Max Baxter of Burlington said Thursday he had called Pirtle to catch up, but
within minutes, Pirtle had threatened to kill Dahlke.
"I'm just going to kill (her)," Baxter recalled hearing from his friend.
Baxter warned his buddy against acting out.
"That wouldn't be very smart to do. Why would you want to?" Baxter said.
It's a question Pirtle never answered and police are trying to find out.
Three days later, Baxter, who choked back tears, said he's filled with
regret for not telling anyone about the conversation.
"I didn't think anything of it," Baxter said. "He's threatened to kill me
before because he's got mad at me. He's threatened to kill a lot of people."
Baxter's father, Mike, confirmed that his son spoke to Pirtle on Monday but
he wasn't aware of the threat at that time.
Police said they believe Pirtle acted alone when he shot Gaul and Dahlke,
whose bodies were found in the upstairs hallway of the Pirtle home at 5852
Brentwood Circle. Police have not yet said what type of weapons, if any,
were found.
Authorities have declined to release the time of death, what type of gun was
used, who called police, and whether Pirtle had made threats against others.
A nationwide manhunt ended Wednesday when authorities in Colorado confronted
a speeding Pirtle near the Colorado-Utah border. The car went off the road
and stopped in a field. A team of officers found Pirtle inside, dead from a
self-inflicted gunshot to the head.
Wendy Likes, spokeswoman for the Mesa County, Colo., sheriff's department,
said Thursday that officials found a shotgun in the car.
Students at Johnston High School, where Pirtle was a sophomore, were
grieving, said Principal Bruce Hukee.
At a meeting early Thursday, Hukee urged teachers and staff to look for
signs of students who were depressed or troubled.
"We're expecting some kids would cry," Hukee said. "Some students show no
visible emotion at all. Some would be angry. Some may express feelings of
hopelessness."
In a statement, Tyler Pirtle's father, Matthew Pirtle, said he could never
have imagined "anything like this ever happening."
"I am distressed beyond belief by the events of the last few days and the
loss of my son, Tyler. I hope that with the help of local authorities we can
uncover what triggered this horrible tragedy."
Matthew and Ann Pirtle were divorced in February 2002, court records show.
Tyler returned to Johnston schools this year after spending last year at
Valley Southwoods Freshman High School in West Des Moines.
Baxter, who used to attend school in Johnston, said Pirtle's parents missed
the warning signs that his friend was in trouble.
"A lot of people in Johnston had a feeling in their gut he'd do something
like this someday," Baxter said.
Baxter said Tyler Pirtle watched as his family fell apart.
"His dad was staying in the basement," Baxter said. "They had told Tyler
there was a hole in the water bed so they couldn't sleep together."
Baxter said Pirtle loved his mother, but their relationship soured while he
lived with her last year. Pirtle became involved with alcohol and drugs and
was on probation, he said.
"She told him she didn't want any of that stuff in her house," said Baxter,
who had visited Pirtle several times since moving to Burlington last
February.
Ann Pirtle was not available for comment.
In Johnston, Dahlke was asked to watch the home while Pirtle's father and
the woman he lives with, Sarah Collinson, were on vacation in the Cayman
Islands. They returned home late Wednesday.
Dahlke's parents, Bill and Connie Dahlke of Marshalltown, said in a
statement they were filled with sorrow.
"Sarah was a beautiful and gifted woman with a bright future in front of
her," they said.
Dahlke apparently got the housesitting job through Collinson, who works at
Pioneer. Matthew Pirtle works for Allied Construction Services Inc. in Des
Moines.
The Dahlke family apparently last spoke to their daughter on Sunday. When
they didn't hear from her again, they started making calls on Tuesday.
School officials said they tried Tuesday morning to check why Pirtle wasn't
in school, but the phone was disconnected.
Chris Coleman, a Des Moines City Councilman and one of Gaul's best friends,
said he believed the last time Gaul spoke with anyone was when he talked to
his wife, Nan, late Tuesday morning.
Gaul gave no indication he was going into a dangerous situation, but she
called him off and on for the next three hours without receiving an answer.
"You have constant concern for people that work on front lines of helping
folks and protecting folks in our community," Coleman said.
Baxter said that the tragedies could have been prevented.
"He was a good kid," said Baxter, crying. "He was always there for everyone
when they needed him."
He said the two talked to each other about their family troubles.
"He, like, sort of talked about, like, it was cool his parents weren't
paying attention," Baxter said. "You can tell by the way he was saying it
was hurting him inside."
Johnston grieves
Johnston High School teachers and staff received these tips for students
grappling with the loss of their peer.
* Students who are unable to control crying or find closure should be
referred to counselors.
* Follow-up is recommended for students close to the victim who do not show
reaction.
* Anger is also a normal reaction to death.
* Any student expressing hopelessness and despair should be taken seriously.
* Teachers should share information they know about the tragedy.
* Someone should check the halls periodically for students who are
distraught.
* Other issues, especially those related to loss, could arise among students
dealing with the tragedy.
* Teachers should steer discussion away from suicide methods or glamorizing
the death.
Services for Sarah Dahlke
VISITATION: From 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday at St. Henry's Catholic Church in
Marshalltown. The family will be present from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and at 6 p.m.
there will be a prayer and vigil ceremony.
SERVICES: 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Henry's Catholic Church.
INFORMATION: Pursel-Davis Funeral Home is handling details. Call
MEMORIAL FUND: The Sarah Ann Dahlke Memorial Fund has been established in
her memory at US Bank, 2500 S. Center St., Marshalltown, IA 50158.
Services for Greg Gaul
VISITATION: From 4 to 7 p.m. today at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2926
Beaver Ave. A memorial service will follow.
FUNERAL: At 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery.
MEMORIAL: A fund has been set up in Greg Gaul's name to benefit his wife and
their six children. The family has asked that money be sent in lieu of
flowers. Contributions may be sent to: Greg Gaul Memorial Fund, First
American Bank, 2805 Beaver Ave., Des Moines, IA 50310. For more information,
call the bank at (515) 237-5596.
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