Julie Schenecker | Murdered Her Own Children | Police Interrogation
Classification: Murderer
Characteristics: Parricide - She allegedly shot her two children because "talked back and were mouthy"
Number of victims: 2
Date of murders: January 28, 2011
Date of arrest: Same day
Date of birth: January 13, 1961
Victims profile: Her son Beau, 13, and daughter Calyx, 16
Method of murder: Shooting (.38 revolver)
Location: Tampa, Florida, USA
Status: Pleaded not guilty. Ordered held without bail
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The Schenecker double homicide occurred on January 28, 2011; Calyx and Beau Schenecker were found dead by police at their home in Tampa, Florida. Their mother, Julie Powers Schenecker, was arrested on suspicion of their murder after an alleged confession.
On January 29, Schenecker was admitted to Tampa General Hospital, but was released the next day. She was charged with two counts of first degree murder and indicted by grand jury on February 9. Seven days later she entered a plea of not guilty, with her legal team indicating they would pursue a defense of the grounds of insanity.
Parker Schenecker divorced his wife in May 2011 and subsequently filed a civil lawsuit for wrongful deaths, following dispute over distribution of the family's assets.
Schenecker family
Julie Powers Schenecker, (born January 13, 1961, from Muscatine, Iowa) lived in Tampa, Florida with her husband, U.S. Army Colonel Parker Schenecker, and their two children. The couple met in Germany during the 1980s, where Julie Powers was working as a Russian linguist.
Their daughter, Calyx, was 16 and son, Beau, was 13 at the time of their deaths. According to the New York Daily News, the children were described as "cheerful and seemingly happy."
Previous investigation
Police visited the Schenecker home November 6, 2010, to investigate an allegation of child abuse made by Calyx. No charges were filed against Schenecker but, according to the police report, Schenecker acknowledged that she had hit her daughter. Calyx told a counselor in a weekly meeting that her mother had hit her in the face when they were heading home from cross-country practice November 2, 2010, according to the police report. Investigators that visited the home said there were no visible injuries on Calyx when the report was filed four days later. Calyx had told investigators that Schenecker had "hit her with an open hand on her face for approximately 30 seconds," according to the report.
Murder
On January 28, 2011, police visited the property after receiving a call from Schenecker's mother, who expressed concern at not being able to reach her daughter. Officers found Beau Schenecker in a sport utility vehicle in the garage and Calyx Schenecker in her bedroom; both had been shot by a .38 revolver and covered in blankets. Julie Schenecker was found unconscious on the rear porch covered in blood.
Police stated that Schenecker admitted to killing her children because they "talked back and were mouthy". A police statement said, "She described the crimes in detail." A note was allegedly found in the house describing a plan to murder her children and commit suicide.
According to the arrest affidavit, Beau was shot twice in the head on January 27 while being driven by his mother from soccer practice. Schenecker then drove home and killed Calyx in her room as she was doing her homework on her computer. The revolver had been purchased five days before the killings. Calyx was found on her bed covered by a blanket.
Criminal trial
Police arrested Julie Schenecker at the scene, later that day she was admitted to hospital for a "pre-existing medical condition". She was released the next day and taken to Hillsborough County Jail, where she is being held without bail. On February 9, 2011, Schenecker was indicted by a grand jury for first degree murder. Her arraignment was set for February 16, where she entered a plea of not guilty, with her defence team indicating they would pursue an insanity defense. Prosecutors have said they will seek the death penalty for Schenecker.
