Michelle Saum Schofield (born 1968 or 1969) was an American woman who lived in Central Florida with her husband Leo Schofield. She did not return home from her job at a restaurant in Lakeland on February 24, 1987. Her body was found three days later in a canal in Bone Valley. She had been stabbed multiple times. Leo was convicted of her murder in 1988 and was in prison for thirty-six years; however, he has always maintained his innocence.
Michelle Schofield | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michelle Saum 1968 or 1969 |
| Died | February 1987 (aged 18) |
| Cause of death | Stab wounds |
| Body discovered | Bone Valley, Florida, U.S. |
Leo Schofield | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 9, 1965 |
| Criminal status | Paroled (2024) |
| Conviction(s) | 25 years to life |
| Criminal penalty | Murder |
A podcast about the murder called Bone Valley, created by writer Gilbert King for Lava for Good, was released in late 2022. The case was also featured on an episode of ABC's 20/20 called Last seen in Lakeland that aired on September 23, 2022.[1][2][3][4]
Leo Schofield was denied parole in May 2023, with another review scheduled for March 2024.[5] At the 2024 parole hearing, Leo Schofield was granted parole and released on April 30.[6]
References
edit- ^ Brooke Stangeland; Gail Deutsch; Joseph Diaz; Jonathan Leach; Jeff Schnieder; Ivan Pereira (September 22, 2022). "Last seen in Lakeland: Is a husband responsible for his wife's murder or is he imprisoned for the crime of another man?". ABC News. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Segal, David (January 28, 2023). "A Florida Judge Finds a New Job: Defending an Inmate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ McCann, Fiona (January 21, 2023). "Did a husband murder his wife or is he in prison for a crime he did not commit?". The Irish Times. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ Miranda Sawyer (January 7, 2023). "The week in audio: Bone Valley; There Are No Greater Heroes; The Crowning of Everest and more". The Guardian (review). Retrieved January 31, 2023.
- ^ White, Gary (May 3, 2023). "State board denies parole for Schofield, convicted in 1987 Lakeland murder". The Ledger. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
- ^ https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/17/us/leo-schofield-bone-valley-parole.html
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