It looks as if Matthew Schneider had been an abusive loser for quite a while. He had been charged with an assortment of violent offenses in the past eleven years. Domestic disputes two years ago. No charges filed.
Brandy filed for divorce in April of this year, and got a restraining order as part of the package. In July, Matthew pleaded guilty to unlawful contact with a minor...that netted him twelve days in jail and three years probation.
They had a eight-year-old son. Brandy's friend says that Matthew spent the first year of their son's life in jail because he beat Brandy.
“He was very abusive,” Brandon said. “He spent the first year of their son’s life in prison because he beat her severely. He beat her many times. He beat her when she was pregnant.”
Matthew was adept at playing the system, and at playing his wife. In May, he alleged that she was leaving their son home unattended. In June, he claimed she hit him. No charges in either case. Three days after the divorce was final, Brandy's boyfriend had his tires deflated. No charges there, either.
He told her he was going to kill her.
She told the court he was going to kill her.
Her friends knew he was going to kill her.
His brother knew something was up, because he found the bodies while doing a "wellness check."
Apparently, Matthew broke his probation, so was under house arrest. He had no ankle bracelet, and he had access to guns.
Last Monday, he went over to his ex-wife's home and shot her, and her boyfriend, and himself...right in front of his eight-year-old son.
The kicker is a quote from Susan Murphy Milano's blog (I can't find a link to this quote in a news story):
According to the police chief “we need to see who else we need to interview and start working backward from the crime to see what his (Schneider’s) state of mind was and his motives.”
As Susan goes on to say,
The shooter’s state of mind is clear as is the motive. The police chief might want to start with the court records from the divorce.
Neither the courts nor the police seem to take these situations seriously. Who allows a person who has made threats toward his ex-wife to be on house arrest, in a place where there are guns, after he has broken probation?
A lot of men make threats. Most of them mean nothing except a bit of hurt male pride. However, surely judges and police can tell when a person is serious about it! Especially as he has a record of violent acts. I think Ms Milano is right: Brandy's family probably has the basis for a lawsuit.
Links:
http://murphymilanojournal.blogspot.com/2009/12/clear-motive.html
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/communities/jackson/x664196412/Friends-of-Brandy-Schneider-speak-out-over-double-murder-suicide-investigation
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/communities/jackson/x980512597/Brother-Lucas-Schneider-calls-in-Jackson-murders-Sunday-morning?popular=true
http://www.thesuburbanite.com/communities/x1689182871/Double-murder-suicide-investigated-in-Jackson-Township?popular=true
Hi Ronni! Still reading your blog and really enjoying it. I made some more of your ornaments this year and they were a big hit with the family. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI'm not following this case or any case, my emotions get the better of me, mmmhmm, but I still like to read your take on them.
I hope you're doing well and look forward to reading more of your "rants".
Happy New Year and Take Care!
A very Happy New Year to you, too, Shina! I've been making ornaments like a crazy person this year! I am so glad you are enjoying making them. I'd love to see pictures of yours, because everyone's are different.
ReplyDeleteI am getting angrier and angrier about these cases, and this one hits such a nerve, due to the incompetence of the legal system.
So many of these guys can play it to their advantage, and mothers like Brandy wind up dead.
It sucks!
Purely coincidence that she looks a lot like Nicole Simpson, but ironic.
ReplyDeleteThis dude was a felon though, not a famous person that the police would look the other way for. I really feel sorry for her son. 8 is such a tender age.
Cheers for Wendy Maldonado who knew that it was only she that could end it. And frankly, for the children, and because the cops CANT help, it really is an option that I would have considered.
I am not even sure a gun would have helped in this case.
ReplyDeleteThere are three other children, too, that were not there...one of hers and two of his.