MARION, Iowa (KCRG) – A Marion father allegedly plotted to kill his 5-year-old son for a week, according to a criminal complaint.

Matthew Schleier, 45, is charged with First Degree Murder and is being held on $1 million cash only bond. He faces a preliminary hearing on November 8.

According to the criminal complaint, Marion Police officers were called to a home in the 4100 block of Willowbrook Drive at 5:57 a.m. Tuesday for a report of a 5-year-old child not breathing.

Paramedics arriving at the scene asked the mother how she found the child, identified only as “JS.” The mother told paramedics that “her father was choking her.” An officer with the Marion Police Department asked Matthew Schleier if this was true and he admitted to strangling his son.

Medical teams tried to save the child at the scene. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Medical personnel noted that the child had bruising on his neck that appeared consistent with strangulation.

In a post-Miranda interview with investigators, Schleier admitted to strangling his son. He also said he spent most of the night trying to decide how to kill his son and had been thinking about killing the boy for the past week. He also admitted that he considered using a knife to kill his son.

While executing the search warrant, investigators collected evidence, including knives, that indicated Schleier had premeditated his actions, according to the complaint.

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