MARION, Iowa (KCRG/Gray News ) – A father planned the killing of his 5-year-old son for a week before killing him, according to police.

Matthew Schleier, 45, is charged with first-degree murder.

According to police, Marion officers were called to a home early Tuesday morning for a report of a 5-year-old boy who was not breathing.

At the scene, paramedics asked the mother how she found the child, who is identified only as ‘JS’. The mother told paramedics “his father strangled him”. An officer asked Schleier if it was true and he admitted that he had strangled his son.

Paramedics took measures to save the boy, and he was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Medical personnel observed bruising on the child’s neck that appeared consistent with strangulation.

During a formal interview with investigators, Schleier admitted to strangling her son.

Schleier said he stayed up most of the night trying to decide how he would kill his son and that he had been thinking about killing the boy for a week. He also admitted that he considered using knives to kill his son.

During the execution of a search warrant, investigators collected evidence, including knives, indicating that Schleier premeditated his actions.

Schleier is being held on a $1 million cash bond.

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