THE DARK SIDE OF IOWA
Robert Sears
Full Name: Robert Sears
Age: 25 years old
Charge: Murder-suicide
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Current Status: Committed suicide
Date of Crime: October 11, 2010
Victims: Carrie Russell & Leona Fatino
Age: 25 years old
Charge: Murder-suicide
County: Polk
City: Des Moines
Current Status: Committed suicide
Date of Crime: October 11, 2010
Victims: Carrie Russell & Leona Fatino
A southwest Des Moines man shot and killed one woman, wounded another, and later killed himself. The violence began late Monday, October 11, 2010, when Des Moines police found two women with gunshot wounds in a car parked at 1898 East Marion Street in southeast Des Moines. Carrie Russell, 24, who lived at that address, was fatally shot. Another woman, Leona Fatino, 56, also of that address, was shot in the leg. Leona was taken to the hospital and was treated.
Investigators said that Robert Sears, 25, of 3904 SW Fourth Street, an acquaintance of Carrie, fired on the women. Detectives tracked Robert to the SW Fourth Street address at about 3:30 a.m., where they found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Carrie sought and received a protective order from a judge on September 7. “I’m afraid for my safety,” Carrie wrote. “I’ve been followed to public places. He drives past the house where I’m staying. He has come to my work. I’m very afraid he might hurt me and my family and friends.” “He is very angry I left him, and I don’t know what he is capable of doing.” A judge issues an order temporarily barring Robert from possessing a firearm on September 21.
Carrie returned home from work at about 10:45 p.m. She got a ride home from Leona Fatino, 56, who she lived with there. Leona parked the car in the driveway and Carrie’s ex-boyfriend, Robert, 25, allegedly approached the passenger side of the car and fired a handgun several times through the passenger window. Carrie was fatally struck in the head. Leona was shot in the leg, but she was able to call 911. Leona, while recovering at Mercy Medical Center, identified Robert as the shooter.
Investigators said that Robert Sears, 25, of 3904 SW Fourth Street, an acquaintance of Carrie, fired on the women. Detectives tracked Robert to the SW Fourth Street address at about 3:30 a.m., where they found him dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wounds.
Carrie sought and received a protective order from a judge on September 7. “I’m afraid for my safety,” Carrie wrote. “I’ve been followed to public places. He drives past the house where I’m staying. He has come to my work. I’m very afraid he might hurt me and my family and friends.” “He is very angry I left him, and I don’t know what he is capable of doing.” A judge issues an order temporarily barring Robert from possessing a firearm on September 21.
Carrie returned home from work at about 10:45 p.m. She got a ride home from Leona Fatino, 56, who she lived with there. Leona parked the car in the driveway and Carrie’s ex-boyfriend, Robert, 25, allegedly approached the passenger side of the car and fired a handgun several times through the passenger window. Carrie was fatally struck in the head. Leona was shot in the leg, but she was able to call 911. Leona, while recovering at Mercy Medical Center, identified Robert as the shooter.
Source: Des Moines Register