The son of a Council Bluffs man found murdered Wednesday was arrested Friday in Colorado on 1st Degree Murder and Theft charges. Authorities said Saturday 20-year old Sean M. Schendel, of Council Bluffs, was taken into custody without incident at a Sterling, CO., motel. He was arrested by officers with the Denver and Sterling Police Departments, after Council Bluffs Police issued a felony warrant for two counts of Theft in the 2nd Degree. He was being held in Colorado on the warrants, awaiting extradition to Pottawattamie County.

Upon completion of an investigation and additional evidence located and collected in Sterling, a warrant was issued for Sean Schendel charging him with Murder in the 1st Degree. The man’s father, 55-year old Robert R. Schendel was found dead inside his Council Bluffs home after Robert’s employer asked Police to conduct a welfare check, noting the man had not reported for work, and he was unable to get a response from the residence when he stopped by.  Robert Schendel died after suffering from several gunshot wounds. His vehicle, a 1988 Gray Dodge Caravan was missing from the man’s property.

Based on evidence at the murder scene, it was determined Sean Schendel was present during the time of his father’s death, and that Sean had withdrawn money from his father’s bank account. The missing van was located outside the motel Sean Schendel was staying at in Colorado. An investigation into the incident continues, but authorities say they do not expect any additional arrests.

Robert R Schendel

Sean M. Schendel