Suspect identified in 1983 cold case death of Iowa man found beaten, bound, and shot

LINN COUNTY, Iowa (TCN) -- Investigators recently identified a suspect in the death of a 24-year-old man who was found dead in a suspected robbery more than four decades ago.

According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, on Dec. 24, 1983, a friend discovered Ronald Novak deceased in an unheated room at his residence in rural Walker. Novak’s hands were reportedly bound behind his back, and he had been beaten in the head and face and shot once in the chest.

Authorities said Novak died from his injuries, shock, and hypothermia. No arrests were made at the time, and the case went cold.

On May 28, Linn County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 64-year-old Michael Schappert of Oregon with assistance from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in connection with Novak’s death.

Investigators worked with DNA Labs International and Parabon Nanolabs to help identify the suspect through DNA found on Novak’s clothes and a hammer believed to have been used in the attack.

According to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office, authorities concluded that Schappert and others "likely went to Novak’s home with the intent to rob him of money and marijuana."

Schappert faces a charge of first-degree murder. He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail and will be extradited to Iowa.

In a statement, Linn County Sheriff Brian Gardner said, "We recognize the pain and trauma that Mr. Novak’s loved ones have endured for more than 40 years while his murder went unsolved. It takes strength to endure such hardship and to remain hopeful that someday the person or persons responsible would be caught and brought to justice. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to seeing this case through."

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