Clayton County, IOWA — Murder suspect, 17 year old Isaiah Sweet is in police custody while awaiting his initial appearance at 1:00 PM today at the Clayton County Courthouse.
On Sunday, May 13th, 2012, at 2:23 PM the Manchester Police Department responded to a 911 call from 109 Deann Drive in Manchester. Upon arrival at the scene officers found the bodies of 62 year old Janet Mae Sweet and 55 year old Richard Lee Sweet inside the residence. Autopsies were conducted Monday at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Ankeny; however, the cause of death is not being released at this time.
Based on witness interviews and other investigative findings, an arrest warrant for two counts of First Degree Murder was issued on Monday afternoon, May 14, 2012, for Isaiah Sweet. Isaiah Sweet is the grandson of Richard and Janet Sweet.
During the evening hours of Monday, May 14, 2012, Sweet was spotted by a Division of Criminal Investigation agent who was conducting surveillance in the Cedar Rapids area. Sweet fled, but was soon after identified and taken into custody near Blairs Ferry Road around 7:00 PM by a Cedar Rapids Police Officer .
Investigators did interview Sweet subsequent to his arrest. Based on conversations with Sweet, investigators are not seeking additional suspects in the death of Janet and Richard Sweet. Additionally, investigators believe Sweet had been in the Cedar Rapids area for most of the weekend and no other citizens were harmed while Sweet eluded authorities.
In remains in custody at the Buchanan County Jail.
The successful and safe conclusion of the two day search for Sweet was made possible through the cooperative efforts of many law enforcement agencies including the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, Manchester Police Department, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, Cedar Rapids Police Department and the Hiawatha Police Department.
