Update: Convicted murderers of Rebecca Hauser learn their fate

Rebecca Hauser, the daughter of Donald and Carol Schnitzler of rural Decorah, was slain in her car in rural central Iowa by a group of young men posing as law enforcement officers in October 1994.

Two convicted murderers of a Burr Oak area native had their parole hearings Sept. 20. Following the hearings with the Iowa Board of Parole, one was granted work release and the other was denied parole in a split decision.

Rebecca Hauser, the daughter of Donald and Carol Schnitzler of rural Decorah, was slain in her car in rural central Iowa by a group of young men posing as law enforcement officers in October 1994. She was a 1980 graduate of North Winneshiek High School. The young wife and mother of twin daughters and two boys was residing near Union in Marshall County at the time of her death.

Back on Oct. 4, 1994, Hauser was driving home to her family. Four teenagers had put lights on top of their vehicle and were reportedly attempting to pull over cars to rob people. Hauser stopped, and then questioned their authority. She was brutally murdered on the roadway where she had stopped.

Two of the four teens charged in the murder, Derek Lee Smith and Burt James Smith, were 15 years old when they were convicted and sentenced on first-degree murder charges. They are currently serving their sentences at the Rockwell City Prison. They were originally sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole. A court re-sentenced them back in 2016 to life with possibility of parole, after the state supreme court ruled juvenile sentences without chance of parole were unconstitutional.

Nearly 30 years later, the Smith brothers had their parole hearings Sept. 20. Burt Smith was granted work release and his brother, Derek Smith, was denied parole (that decision will be reviewed in 12 months).

The other men convicted in the murder are allowed to leave their prisons. Jayson Speaks was granted work release in 2020, and he is serving in Cedar Rapids. Blake Privitt pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was granted parole in2017. He is living in a community-based corrections facility in Fairfield. Privitt is set to be released in 2029.

During the recent hearing, the Parole Board members reportedly said their decision is based on their behavior in prison, not their crime.

Original article: Convicted murderers up for parole

 

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Don dilaura
Guest
1 year ago

On there behavior know what about there behavior in 1994..all 4 should be in prison for life..

Alyssa Margaret Hoffman
Guest
1 year ago

This IS RIDICULOUS!! He don’t deserve to get out, neither of them do, they both need to serve their sentences and not let off easily. I don’t care if they were both 15yrs old they knew what the hell they were doing and they plotted a robbery and murder and went through with it. IT wasn’t on accident. I swear, wtf is wrong with Iowa and all these other states goin easy of convicted felons. I feel no remorse at ALL for these scumbags and they deserve to complete the life sentences plus 90years. THEY NEED TO STOP FEELING SORRY OR BAD FOR THESE FELONS, THEY CLEARLY DIDN’T HAVE MERCY ON REBECCA’S SOUL SO WHY SHOULD WE😤😤😤 This is the real matter at hand people should be protesting about, not stupid politics.

Luanna Spencer
Guest
1 year ago

I find this a hard to agree with. It was a premeditated attack by a gang of monsters. I realize they were young and the theory that their brain wasn’t fully developed but what about their hearts? I really think the little band of cowards should never be released. 15 years old and 30 incarcerated years later equals 45 still probably dangerous. Rebecca’s children and other family members deserve better.