Prosecutors say Marion father ‘premeditated’ how to kill his 5-year-old child, who he strangled

A Marion father accused of strangling his 5-year-old son Tuesday told police he spent most of the night “trying to decide” whether and how to kill the child.

Matthew Gerald Schleyer, 45, also told investigators in Marion that he had been thinking about killing his son, Jack, for the past week, the criminal complaint states. He also admitted that he thought about using the knives to kill his child, which police discovered while gathering evidence during a search warrant at the Schleiers’ home, 4105 Willowbrook Dr. in Marion.

Evidence from the knives suggests that Schleyer premeditated his actions, the complaint states.

Schleyer, who is wearing a padded vest and appears on video from the Linn County Jail, was charged with first-degree murder during his first appearance in Linn County District Court on Wednesday. Schleier showed no visible emotion, staring straight ahead during his video speech.

Sixth Judicial Circuit Judge Casey Jones asked if he had a private attorney or if the court had to appoint one, and Schleyer said he needed a court-appointed attorney.

Jones set bail at $1 million cash only, according to a request from the Linn County District Attorney’s Office.

Schleyer works for United Fire Group as the agency’s assistant vice president of field operations and resources. He was named regional manager of the Cedar Rapids office in October 2023, according to a UFG newsletter.

Police received a 911 call around 5:57 a.m. Tuesday about an unresponsive 5-year-old child “who was not breathing and was warm to the touch,” according to the criminal complaint. Paramedics from the Marion Fire Department began life-saving measures, and then police officers assisted.

Paramedics asked the child’s mother, Victoria Schleyer, a kindergarten teacher at St. Joseph’s in Marion, how she found her son, Jack Schleyer, a preschooler, and the mother said, “His dad strangled him,” the complaint states.

The officer asked Matthew Schleyer if his wife was right, and he confirmed that he had strangled Jack.

Police said on Tuesday in a news releaseat the time of the “incident” there were two more adults and one more child in the house. None of them were physically injured.

Chris McCarville, president of Xavier Catholic Schools, wrote in a letter to school families: “It is with deep sadness that we share with you the news of the death of a student at St. Joseph, Jack Schleier, son of St. Kindergarten teacher Joseph Victoria Schleyer. Jack’s joyful spirit touched many in our community and he will be greatly missed.”

“During this difficult time, we ask all XCS families to keep Jack’s family in our prayers,” McCarville continued. “As a Catholic school community, we rely on our faith and each other. We ask that the family respect the privacy of Jack’s family and not contact us directly at this time. Information about specific ways to provide support will be shared with St. Joseph’s families in the near future.”

McCarville also noted in the letter that Xavier and Grant Wood AEA counselors will be on site at St. Joseph’s on Wednesday and in the following weeks to help students cope with the loss.

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