MUSCATINE, Iowa – Karl Reichert has been removed as executor of his late father’s estate, according to a ruling handed down July 26 by district court judge Mark J. Smith at the Muscatine County Courthouse.

A civil suit was brought against Reichert by his sister, Louise Dingler, after suspicions arose that he was taking money that did not rightfully belong to him.

Muscatine County prosecutors and investigators have not filed charges, but are investigating  Reichert, a Muscatine Realtor, for allegedly diverting more than $77,000 from his father’s nearly $588,000 estate to pay personal bills.

Dingler’s attorney asked that she be appointed as executor but Reichert’s  attorneys objected because Dingler has the same interest in the estate. Smith appointed retired district court judge and trained mediator John A. Nahra as successor as a neutral party.

Reichert was given 10 days from Friday’s ruling to turn over all of the documents concerning the estate to Nahra.