A Council Bluffs man accused of killing his father has struggled with mental health problems and discussed those problems openly on Facebook. The Omaha World-Herald reports police think the day after 55-year old Robert Schendel died from numerous gunshot wounds, his 21-year old son Sean posted statements on Facebook that he had “never felt more alone” and that “family isn’t forever.” Robert Schendel was found dead in his home, last Wednesday.
On July 22, Sean posted lyrics from the rapper T.I.: “All I wanna do Is chill … take my mind off all the ones I wanna go n kill.” He also posted statements about having panic attacks and said he is a “waste of life.” Duane Renz, Sean’s uncle, told the paper said Sean has struggled with mental health problems since birth. When he turned 18, his father and his mother, Phyllis Schendel, asked a judge to appoint them guardians of their son.
Sean Schendel wrote in court documents that he wanted his parents to have guardianship over him to help him with daily activities and medical decisions. Court records say st the time, he was receiving counseling for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and depression, and described him as having an impaired decision-making capacity. The guardianship arrangement allowed the parents to make financial and medical decisions for Sean without court approval. Phyllis Schendel is deceased. Robert Schendel terminated the guardianship a year ago.
Police say Sean Schendel withdrew money from his dad’s bank account and took his minivan to drive to Colorado. Sean was arrested last Friday at a motel in Sterling, Colorado. Authorities say during a police interview over the weekend, he admitted to killing his father. Officials haven’t said what might have led to the shooting.
Sean Schendel appeared in a Colorado court on Monday and signed a waiver to be extradited, according to a court clerk in Sterling. Iowa authorities have 14 days to transport him back to Iowa. When he’s returned to Iowa, he’ll face charges of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree theft. A memorial service for Robert Schendel is scheduled for 10 a.m. today (Tuesday), at Hoy-Kilnoski Funeral Home, (1221 N. 16th St.), in Council Bluffs.