CEDAR RAPIDS — A judge ruled a Marion father, who was found not guilty by reason of insanity after strangling his 5-year-old son in October 2024, should remain committed to a mental health facility.
Sixth Judicial District Judge David Cox, in his first review of Matthew Gerald Schleier, 46, who entered the Cherokee Mental Health Institute May 7 for evaluation and treatment, concluded Schleier “has made progress, but more time and evidence is needed to determine he no longer poses a threat to himself or others.”
“The chances of his relapse are too high at this point in time,” Cox said in the ruling. “Additional time and treatment should allow the medical team to allow Mr. Schleier to experience the types of stress he would experience if released.”
Sixth Judicial District Judge David Cox delivers his verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity for defendant Matthew Schleier in April.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette
Schleier continues to have a mental illness and “his actions are recent enough to show a recent overt act (killing child) to find he continues to be a danger to himself and others.”
Cox ordered the chief medical officer of the facility to report to the court in writing within 60-days, unless an extension is requested and granted by the court, providing his diagnosis and opinion if Schleier is mentally ill and dangerous to himself or others.
Dr. Ronald Berges, a psychiatrist and director of the Cherokee institute, testified earlier this month that Schleier should remain longer in treatment and psychiatric therapy. He said Schleier had made progress but, in his opinion, because of Schleier’s major depression with “psychotic features” needed more treatment and long-term monitoring.
CEDAR RAPIDS — A Marion father, who is charged with fatally strangling his 5-year-old son, told police investigators in a second interview he …
Berges said it would be unusual for a patient with Schleier’s severe depression to be released at this point, in light of what brought him here — killing his 5-year-old son, Jack, on Oct. 29, 2024. He has been in the institute since May 7, which Berges said wasn’t enough time to prevent relapse.
Berges said it was “very likely” he would relapse without proper continued care. This type of major depressive disorder is severe and requires long-term monitoring and treatment. Most patients who suffer from this usually have inpatient therapy for a year or more, depending if they had recurrent episodes or events — as Schleier had.
Cox found him not guilty by reason of insanity of first-degree murder, following a bench or non-jury trial in April.
According to trial testimony in February, Schleier strangled his son, Jack, on Oct. 29, 2024, in the family’s Marion home because he thought his son would be “better off not being here” and not having to deal with his food allergies, which the father called “overwhelming” to manage.
Schleier claimed he was insane at the time, and three experts who testified during his February trial said he was in a psychosis and couldn’t distinguish right from wrong.
Matthew Schleier reacts as his verdict is read as not guilty by reason of insanity April 27 in Linn County District Court in Cedar Rapids.
Savannah Blake/The Gazette