March 28, 2024

Van Dusseldorp pleads guilty to reduced murder charge

A Newton man accused in the November shooting death of his older brother has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Keith Randall "Randy" Van Dusseldorp, who originally had been charged with first-degree murder, was scheduled to stand trial next week before entering a guilty plea in late March to second-degree murder. He is scheduled to be sentenced on the lesser charge on May 4.

Van Dusseldorp was arrested Friday, Nov. 7, 2008, after he called 911 at 6:29 p.m. and told a Jasper County dispatcher he had shot his brother, 54-year-old Ray Lee Van Dusseldorp.

"He came home with an attitude of violence tonight like he has been the last few weeks," Randy Van Dusseldorp told the dispatcher during the 911 call on Nov. 7. "And I'm tired of putting up with it. I'm tired of getting hit all the time. Getting tired of being yelled at. And everything else."

Paramedics arrived at the scene at 111 E. 19th St. S. in Newton and transported Ray Van Dusseldorp to Skiff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

The incident occurred a day after the death of Randy and Ray's mother, Eunice Darlene Van Dusseldorp, at Careage of Newton. Randy was residing in her house at the time of the shooting. According to court documents, Randy surrendered to Newton police when they arrived at the home, and the 52-year-old was transported to the Newton Police Department for questioning.

According to court records, Randy admitted to authorities he and his brother engaged in a verbal altercation when Ray arrived at the house, and he told police he shot Ray in the chest with a 20-gauge shotgun while he was walking down a stairwell.

Investigators also found a machete leaning against a wall and a large butcher knife on a table. Court records stated Randy showed no signs of remorse and said his brother "got what he deserved."

Randy is being held in the Jasper County Jail until his sentencing.



Mandi Lamb can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 424 or via e-mail at mlamb@newtondailynews.com.