Husband kills wife, 4 kids, then dies in fiery
vehicular suicide

A man who had been charged with embezzlement killed his wife and four children and left a note apologizing. He then committed suicide by wrecking the family van in a fiery crash, according to police.

Steven Sueppel, a former bank executive, was identified using dental records, police say.

In a news conference, police say Sueppel killed his wife; then attempted to kill his children and himself using carbon monoxide from the garage. That failed, so he killed the children one-by-one before taking off in the van and killing himself.

Autopsy results show that the wife and children were beaten on the head and torsos. Two baseball bats might have been used, according to reports.

Court records show that Steven Sueppel, 42, was indicted last month on charges of stealing about $560,000 from Hills Bank and Trust in Johnson County, where he was vice president and controller.

He pleaded not guilty to embezzlement and money laundering in U.S. District Court and was released on a $250,000 (Around £125,000) personal bond. The government was also seeking the forfeiture of the money he was accused of stealing.

His trial was scheduled for April 21.

It's just very difficult to believe," says Tom Baldridge, a Sueppel family friend told KGAN-TV. "Steven's mind snapped. He couldn't have gotten into the thought process that would have allowed him to do this if he were rational and sane."

At the UCKG HelpCentre every Monday, meetings are held in order to help people with their own financial difficulties. Whilst the problem of many may be the non-existence of sufficient money or the apparent means for which to make it; some find themselves having money, but being unable to hold on to it, or still facing problems with spiralling debt.

Many people have arrived at the UCKG HelpCentre facing such difficulties; but upon receiving advice and prayers, found that they now have the ability to control their finances. Furthermore, debts and other financial problems which appeared insolvable have now become a thing of the past.

If you would like to receive advice or a prayer regarding your finances or any other problem, please visit one of our HelpCentres or call 020 7686 6000.

Read Kalvin and Raymond stories of how they found a solution to their financial problems.

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Released on Friday, 28th March 2008