BONAPARTE (MCT) — The 4,000 square-foot home in rural Bonaparte overlooking the Des Moines River has five bedrooms, 2.75 bathrooms, a two-car garage, a swimming pool and hot tub, among many other features.
On the surface, it sounds like a dream home. But the property carries with it memories of the October 2006 murders of Michael and Sandra Bentler and their three daughters, Shayne, Shelby and Sheena.
More than 200 people crowded into the Bonaparte Inn Saturday night for a land auction. Many were wondering how much the estate of Michael and Sandra Bentler would sell for. Some were interested in the land itself; others just wanted the auction to serve as the final chapter to a sad story.
The Bentlers’ 23-year old son Shawn Bentler was convicted of killing his parents and three sisters in their home. In May 2007, he was convicted and is currently serving five life sentences for the slayings of his family members.
Prosecutors argued Shawn Bentler wanted to inherit money from the family’s lumber business and property — he stood to inherit nearly $3 million. However, Iowa law prohibits a beneficiary who causes death from receiving any portion of the victim’s estate.
In just more than an hour, the home and all 445 acres of land were bidded on and sold. The auction was run by Sullivan Auctioneers out of Hamilton, Ill.
The Bentler estate in Van Buren County was broken up into seven tracts, ranging from 16 acres to 103 acres each.
The house, 23894 Hawk Drive, rural Bonaparte, and surrounding 28 acres sold for $225,000 to Amos Zimmerman, of Missouri. Bidding started at $100,000.
A total of 435 acres of farmland, wooded acreage and tillable land were sold at an average of $2,200 per acre. All totaled, the entire property was auctioned off for $973,800.
Jim Sullivan, representative with Sullivan Auctioneers out of Hamilton, Ill., would not comment out of respect for the family.