Guy Gilbert returned to his South Dakota home to find that his visiting son had committed suicide. When the police went to notify his family of his untimely death, they had no idea of the horrors that awaited them inside their quiet house in Iowa.
Sources
Friend says Gilbert threatened to kill family. The Dispatch, 1/6/1981
Gilbert death ruled suicide; family shootings being investigated. Rapid City Journal, 1/6/1981 p. 7
Officers probe Delmar man’s previous threats to family. Des Moines Tribune, 1/5/1981 p.1
Iowa town rocked by suicide, murders. Lead Daily Call, 1/5/1981 p. 1
Pupils at Delmar talk about schoolmates’ tragic deaths. Des Moines Register, 1/6/1981
There was no one to answer call about suicide. Rapid City Journal, 1/5/1981 p. 5
Tests identify Gilbert’s gun as murder weapon. Sioux City Journal, 1/8/1981
Murder suspect ‘kept to himself.’ Argus-Leader, 1/6/1981
Delmar killings ‘murder-suicide.’ Iowa City Press-Citizen, 1/7/1981
A family’s grisly tragedy. Quad City Times, 1/5/1981
Eulogy: Don’t ask for reason. Quad City Times, 1/8/1981
Maquoketa church mourns 6 members. Quad City Times, 1/9/1981
Tests find same handgun killed 7 in Delmar family. Des Moines Register, 1/7/1981