The Maquoketa Caves State Park Tragedy

A Tragic Morning in Iowa

On a seemingly ordinary morning, the tranquility of Maquoketa Caves State Park in Jackson County, Iowa, was shattered by a horrific crime. On July 22, 2022, three members of the Schmidt family—father Tyler, mother Sarah, both 42, and their six-year-old daughter Lula—were brutally murdered. In a twist of fate, their nine-year-old son, Arlo, survived this appalling attack that left the peaceful park in a state of shock and fear.

The Crime Unfolds

The attack began shortly before 6:23 a.m. The assailant launched a vicious assault that left Tyler Schmidt shot multiple times and stabbed, Sarah Schmidt stabbed repeatedly, and little Lula shot and strangled. The chilling details of this crime were too much for the quiet Iowa morning to bear. It was a scene of unimaginable violence.

At precisely 6:23 a.m., authorities received a frantic call reporting the triple homicide. The park was immediately closed as law enforcement officers swarmed the scene, piecing together the details of the gruesome event. Their investigation led them to discover that the only registered camper unaccounted for was a 23-year-old from La Vista, Nebraska, named Anthony Orlando Sherwin. While initially unsure if Sherwin was another victim or the perpetrator, they were certain of one thing: he was armed.

The Hunt for a Killer

As the investigation unfolded, law enforcement deployed a plane to aid in their search for Sherwin. By 11:00 a.m., the plane located his body, west of the campground. Sherwin had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and the authorities quickly identified him as the primary suspect in the case.

An Unfathomable Act

Despite the swift identification of Sherwin as the assailant, the motive behind his deadly rampage remained elusive. To the shock of investigators, there was no known connection between Sherwin and the Schmidt family. It appeared to be a random, senseless act of violence. This randomness was further underscored by the fact that Arlo, the lone survivor, had unknowingly run to Sherwin’s mother for help, using her phone to call the police.

The Investigation Continues

On August 4, 2022, the Iowa Department of Public Safety released the autopsy reports, confirming the grim details: a combination of gunshot wounds, multiple sharp force injuries, and strangulation had caused the deaths. The report concluded unequivocally that Sherwin was the lone perpetrator of these heinous acts. Despite requests for further records under the Freedom of Information Act and Iowa's open records law, the Iowa Department of Public Safety denied access, leaving some questions unanswered.

The Aftermath

In the hours following the tragic event, Camp Shalom, a Christian summer camp located about a mile and a half from the crime scene, was evacuated safely at 9:15 a.m., ensuring the safety of all its attendees.

Reactions and Reflections

The tragedy reverberated through the community and beyond. Shortly after the incident, Anthony Sherwin’s parents spoke out, disputing the allegations against their son. They insisted that Anthony, who had no criminal record, might have sensed danger and armed himself in self-defense. His mother, Cecilia Sherwin, expressed disbelief, asserting, “We refuse to believe the news. We are deeply saddened as he had so much to live for and gave us no indication that anything was wrong.” She also noted a discrepancy in witness descriptions, stating her son was wearing green, not black, at the time of the incident.

The incident drew responses from state leaders as well. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her horror and devastation over the loss of three innocent lives, urging the public to pray for the victims' family and the responding law enforcement officers. Representatives Ashley Hinson, Cheri Bustos, and Senator Chuck Grassley echoed these sentiments, offering their condolences and support.

Sources

• "4 dead, including gunman, after shooting at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Iowa, police say." USA TODAY. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
• "Live updates: 4 dead in 'horrifying and senseless' shooting at Iowa's Maquoketa Caves State Park, including alleged gunman." The Des Moines Register. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
• "Autopsies reveal family members were stabbed, shot, strangled at Maquoketa Caves State Park." KCRG. August 4, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
• Gariano, Francesca (July 23, 2022). "Boy, 9, 'survived' Iowa park shooting that killed parents and sister, officials say." TODAY.com. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
• Jiménez, Jesus; Fahy, Claire; Patel, Vimal; Peragine, John (July 22, 2022). "4 Dead After Iowa State Park Shooting, Authorities Say." The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
• Foley, Ryan J.; Beck, Margery A. (July 22, 2022). "Police: Gunman kills 3 at Iowa state park; shooter also dead." AP NEWS. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
• Miller, Susan (July 24, 2022). "'We don't know what led up to this': 9-year-old boy survives Iowa campground shooting that killed family." USA Today. Retrieved July 25, 2022.
• "UPDATE: Autopsies Completed In Maquoketa Caves State Park Triple Homicide | Iowa Department of Public Safety." Retrieved August 7, 2022.
• "911 call reveals more details of Maquoketa Caves murders." www.thegazette.com. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
• Ashford, Molly; Hoffman, Ryan (July 23, 2022). "Mother of suspected gunman in Iowa state park shooting says family is 'deeply saddened'." Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
• "Iowa DCI: 3 killed in shooting at Maquoketa Caves campground, gunman also dead." KCCI. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
• "UPDATE: 4 dead at Maquoketa Caves State Park; triple-homicide investigation underway." Telegraph Herald. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

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