Police in Council Bluffs are investigating a homicide. Officials say just before 7-a.m. today (Wednesday), the Pottawattamie County 911 center received a call from a person who said he was outside the home of his employee, 55-year old Robert R Schendel, who resides at 706 Mynster Street. Schendel had not shown up for work as usual, and the employer was requesting a welfare check.

55-year old Robert R Schendel (Council Bluff P-D photo)

Uniformed officers arrived at the residence and were unable to get a response so entry was made. Officers located Schendel inside the home. The man was dead from several gunshot wounds. Schendel’s vehicle, a 1988 Gray Dodge Caravan bearing Iowa License plate BGZ696, was missing.

The Criminal Investigation Division was called to the scene, and while the death was in the early stages of investigation, the incident was being treated as a homicide. An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday in Ankeny. Anyone with any information about the crime is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 712-328-7867.