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A Fairbank man who shot and killed his son in 2019 has been ordered to remain in treatment, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. 60 year old Daniel Niebuhr shot his son, 36 year old Brock Niebuhr to death at the elder Niebuhr’s rural Fairbank home in 2019 during an apparent mental health episode. In the trial he was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sent to the Iowa Medical and Classification Center for an evaluation. On Monday the court received an update that recommended Niebuhr be kept in a facility like the Mental Health Institute in Independence. During the trial a forensic psychiatrist testified that he diagnosed Niebuhr with major depressive disorder with psychotic features and mixed features. He also testified that Niebuhr did not understand the difference between right and wrong.
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A judge Monday found a Fairbank man who shot and killed his son not guilty by reason of insanity. 60 year old Daniel Niebuhr was charged with first-degree murder after shooting his son, Brock Niebuhr, of Dike, on March 22, 2019. Authorities said the younger Niebuhr was sitting on a couch watching television when his father walked up behind him and shot him in the head. Niebuhr pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Court documents said Niebuhr’s behavior began to change in August 2018. He was taken to an emergency room in February 2019 for evaluation. After being prescribed medication, he was released. A day after being taken to the hospital, Niebuhr attacked his brother and was committed to Allen Hospital in Waterloo for 10 days. Doctors said Niebuhr appeared to be hearing voices but his condition improved when he took the medication. Niebuhr apparently stopped taking the medication after being released from Allen Hospital. Niebuhr will be held at the I
State said Niebuhr was sane when he killed his son southernminn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from southernminn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Daniel Niebuhr, 60, fired a 9mm SIG Sauer pistol, killing his son, Brock.
Whether Daniel Niebuhr acted with premeditation or his actions were the result of having diminished mental capacity formed the crux of a week-long trial in Bremer County District Court in November.
The answer to these questions would determine whether the defendant will spend the rest of his life in prison or be committed to a mental facility. A judge rather than a jury will make this decision, as Daniel Niebuhr waived the right to a jury.
Bremer County Attorney Kasey Wadding for the prosecution and defense attorneys Chad Frese and Jennifer Frese filed written closing arguments over the last two Mondays. Wadding is scheduled to file a rebuttal on Monday, Dec. 21, with trial Judge DeDra Schroeder rendering a decision later.
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Central to the first-degree murder trial of Daniel Niebuhr is whether the Fairbank man acted in a premeditated manner when he shot and killed his son, Brock, on March 22, 2019, or did it in a bout of insanity.
Bremer County Attorney Kasey Wadding filed his closing arguments in the bench trial last week with Bremer County District Court Judge DeDra Schroeder. Defense attorneys Chad Frese and Jennifer Frese filed their closing on Monday.
Wadding is scheduled to file a rebuttal on Monday, Dec. 21. Schroeder will render a decision sometime after that.
In the balance is whether Daniel Niebuhr will spend the rest of his life in prison, will be committed to a mental facility or walk away a free man.