An Oregon man accused in a decades-old killing in Linn County, Iowa will now face a jury trial in 2027.
Michael Schappert was arrested in May in connection with the 1983 murder of Ron Novak after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the crime scene.
According to court records, Schappert waived his right to a speedy trial on Friday. Officials say the case — which dates back more than four decades — is complex, and both prosecutors and defense attorneys need additional time to review evidence and prepare for trial.
The case had previously been scheduled for trial in February and later moved to April. It is now set to begin on January 19, 2027. Schappert faces one charge of first-degree murder.
A criminal complaint outlines the lengthy investigation. On December 24, 1983, deputies with the Linn County Sheriff’s Office responded to Novak’s home, where they discovered a large amount of blood smeared throughout the residence. Authorities also found two hammers, firewood, and a golf club near Novak’s body that contained traces of hair and blood.
Investigators said Novak had been shot, and the official cause of death was determined to be a combination of gunshot wounds, blunt force trauma to the head, and exposure to cold conditions that led to shock.
In July 2011, several items from the crime scene were sent to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation laboratory for DNA testing. Evidence collected from Novak’s socks produced a DNA profile believed to belong to a suspect.
According to the complaint, Schappert told investigators during a 2023 interview that he had hitchhiked from Oregon to Iowa shortly before Christmas in 1983. He also recalled being at Novak’s home but did not provide a clear explanation for why he was there or why his DNA may have been present.
In June 2020, genetic genealogy testing by Parabon NanoLabs identified potential relatives connected to the DNA profile. Detectives later obtained DNA samples from distant relatives, allowing genealogists to narrow the search to three brothers.
Two of those brothers were eventually ruled out after investigators collected covert DNA samples. Authorities say a covert sample of Schappert’s DNA was obtained in August 2022. A known sample was later collected from him in December 2023 during an interview with investigators.
According to investigators, Schappert later spoke with his brother by phone on December 21, 2023. During that call, Schappert allegedly claimed he had been at Novak’s home with another person while trapping in the area, saying he had been injured and went there to clean up. Investigators said that explanation did not match Novak’s known habits at the time, as he was not known to allow people into his home.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has said the case remains an active and ongoing investigation. Authorities believe more than one person may have been involved in Novak’s death.
