Man Left Estate to Wildlife Fund Before Killing Kin

Robert Dreesman, who killed his parents, his sister and her three children, then took his own life, revised his will several weeks before the slayings, leaving just $1 to each family member, according to court papers filed Friday.

The rest of Dreesman’s estate, which authorities said was “substantial,” was earmarked for the World Wildlife Fund, officials said.

But investigators with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation refused to speculate about whether Dreesman was planning the killings when he changed his will.

Eugene Meyer, assistant division director, said authorities were still trying to determine the motive for the slayings. He said the will might be a clue but that so far they had nothing definitive.

“We are interested in anything we find out as it relates to Robert Dreesman because it may or may not have a bearing on how this incident unfolded,” Meyer said. “But the exact why is still speculative.”