CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Nearly four decades after Ronald Novak was brutally killed just before Christmas 1983, authorities have arrested 64-year-old Michael Schappert of Fairview, Oregon, in connection with the cold case.
Novak, a Cedar Rapids native, was found beaten, shot, and tied up in his rural Linn County home. His body was discovered frozen in subzero temperatures, with his three dogs huddled around him.
In 2013, investigators recovered the suspected killer’s DNA from Novak’s shirt, but it wasn’t until recently that a match was made, leading to Schappert’s arrest. Schappert’s DNA was found not only on Novak’s clothing but also on a hammer believed to be the weapon used in the attack.
Authorities suspect Schappert and accomplices intended to rob Novak of money and marijuana. Schappert is currently held at Multnomah County Jail, awaiting extradition to Iowa on a first-degree murder charge.
At a press event, Novak’s family expressed relief at finally receiving answers after so many years. “It’s just still surreal,” said Patti Wilson, Novak’s sister. “You have no clue how it affects a family.”
Novak, the youngest of seven siblings and a 1978 Jefferson High School graduate, was found by his brother, who passed away last year. Wilson hopes her brother and mother could have had closure before their passing.
