Posted on 05/05/2008 5:19:28 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
The Belle Plaine man who fatally shot his 8-year-old son while turkey hunting last month had alcohol and marijuana in his system at the time of the incident, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday in Sibley County.
Anthony Klaseus mistook his son, Hunter, for a wild turkey last month and shot him in the chest with a 12-gauge shotgun, according to police.
When officials arrived at the scene, they smelled alcohol and asked Klaseus if he had been drinking.
Klaseus stated he had consumed one beer several hours earlier in the day and agreed to take a preliminary breath test. Klaseus tested with a BAC of .060.
Investigators searched Klaseus vehicle and found several 12-packs of beer and several empty bottles and cans. They also found a marijuana pipe, which had freshly burnt marijuana residue inside.
After urine tests, Klaseus was found with an ethyl alcohol concentration of .05 grams. The sample was collected three hours after the time of the shooting. Tests regarding the exact amount of marijuana in Klaseus' system will be released in the next few weeks.
Klaseus is charged with second-degree manslaughter, reckless discharge of a firearm, trespassing, and hunting without a license.
If convicted, Klaseus faces over 15 years in prison, a $32,000 fine, or both.
Poor kid, that he would be murdered by his father over something this incredibly stupid is maddening.
He deserves death, but may this thing (it’s definitely nothing even approaching a man if pot and alcohol mean more to him than the safety of his child) find its life behind bars a grinding Hell beyond all endurance.
Hopefully the other inmates will see that justice is done.
This photo has been torturing me for the past month.
I think your remark about sums it up.
Sorry, I get emotional in cases like this one.....
and the antis’ will use this poor excuse of a man let alone a “hunter” as a prime example of how terrible real hunters are...
I grew up in the country and we don’t call those “hunters”
I'd definitely prefer to clean and eat a turkey than a scrawny pheasant.
With all the mega-farms and corporate farms, it's gotten a lot harder to find private land to hunt. Opening day of any season can be hazardous to your health around the public DNR hunting areas.
(BTW, I've seen a ton of wild turkeys this year in eastern Iowa.)
What a nightmare for all involved! Poor innocent child, out for a day of fun with dad and he loses his life due to stupidity on the part of one who should have known better.
I just saw both pictures accompanying this story.One of the man with his son (already posted), and the other of his whole family. They look like very nice people and I feel so bad for all of them.
I just saw both pictures accompanying this story.One of the man with his son (already posted), and the other of his whole family. They look like very nice people and I feel so bad for all of them.
Sorry for the double post.
I knew a doctor who pinned a man to a tree with his bow and arrow thinking he was a turkey.
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