Since its debut in 1978, ABC’s “20/20” has chronicled one gruesome true-crime story after another in an effort to truly shine a light on the dark side of human nature. Therefore, it stands to reason that the season 45 premiere, aptly named “Last Seen In Lakeland,” which explores the sad 1987 homicide of Michelle Saum Schofield, is no different. We now have the essential information for you if you want to know more about the incident, in particular what happened, the investigations that followed and what happened as a result of it.
michelle schofield
The cause of death of Michelle Schofield
On February 24, 1987, at approximately 8:15 p.m., Michelle Schofield, an 18-year-old from Lakeland, Florida, quit her job at a nearby hamburger restaurant to return home. She was never heard from again. Nearly 90 minutes later, she phoned her husband Leo, but it looks like they were just catching up. He then asked to be picked up at a friend’s house so they could go to lunch. However, she did not arrive as expected, prompting him to start looking for her just after midnight. He called both their parents, followed his path, and looked in their mobile home, but to no effect.
In the hours that followed, Michelle’s loved one even called the police, made contact with nearby hospitals and printed leaflets in a last-ditch effort to find her, but to no avail. However, according to court records, a friend found his orange Mazda sedan next to Interstate 4 exit 44 on Feb. 25, allowing authorities and his family a closer area to focus their search. Significant details include that his car’s trunk was unlocked, the rear speakers were missing, and strands of hair were lodged inside the rear panel, increasing the possibility of improper activity.
Detectives and volunteers searched the area thoroughly; however, it was Michelle’s stepfather, Leo Sr., who discovered her frozen and bloody remains on February 27, 1987. Seven miles from where her car was found, she had been submerged behind a sheet of plywood in a waterlogged canal. near the intersection of State Road 33 and Interstate 44. The 18-year-old died after being stabbed a total of 26 times and losing five liters of blood, according to her autopsy; unfortunately, it was not a quick, simple or painless death.
Also Read: Where Is Leo Schofield’s Dad? Is he still alive?
Who was Michelle Schofield’s killer?
michelle schofield
Detectives immediately contacted Michelle’s loved ones to inquire about any issues in her life due to the sheer horror of the crime, only to find her marriage was less than ideal. In fact, witnesses even reported instances of physical abuse and threats from Leo Schofield. Along with reports showing that the couple engaged in frequent violent clashes, authorities have also been made aware of these incidents. Then their next-door neighbor Alice Scott said she witnessed and overheard the Schofields arguing that fateful evening before Leo drove away with a large object stuffed in the trunk of his car.
And if that wasn’t enough, another eyewitness account reportedly linked Leo to the crime saying his father’s vehicle and his car were both found at the scene of his body’s discovery the morning after he disappeared. On June 24, 1988, Leo was arrested and charged with the first degree murder of his wife Michelle despite the fact that there was no concrete evidence linking him to the crime; the case rested solely on circumstantial evidence.
About a year later, when Leo went on trial, Alice’s whole story was called into question due to her history of mental health issues and the unlikely nature of her timing for the offense. This is due to Leo actually being with his wife’s father at the time she allegedly claimed the heated argument in their mobile home took place (he was presumably looking for her).
The jury took just two hours to convict Leo, as numerous other reliable witnesses – a total of 21 – testified to his aggressive tendencies and restless temper. Leo maintained his innocence even during his trial and told the court right away that he didn’t kill Michelle. Leo was later sentenced to life in prison. “You are making a mistake, I tell you. I’ll show you how I can save it.
Leo’s appeals have all been dismissed since then, but we must point out that in 2004 a fingerprint found in Michelle’s car matched that of Jeremy Lynn Scott, who was not previously associated with Leo. Jeremy, also known as “Bam Bam”, is actually a convicted felon with a criminal record that includes seven convictions for armed robbery, arson and violence, as well as a murder charge acquitted at age 15 years old. convicted of first degree murder and armed robbery for strangling a man in 1988 after hitting him over the head with a bottle. He is currently serving a life sentence for these crimes.
The most important fact, however, is that Jeremy once admitted to being responsible for Michelle’s death as well. He claimed he saw Michelle using her phone at a gas station while talking to Leo and asked for a ride. Jeremy allegedly claimed in 2016 that after consenting, he pointed her to a lake and, while high on prescription drugs, stabbed her to death with a hunting knife. He was determined to lack credibility as he refused to sign a statement for the record, refused to speak to a detective, and later denied his confession. So Leo still faces a murder charge for his wife’s death.
Michelle Schofield, then 18, left the restaurant where she worked at 8:15 p.m. on February 24, 1987, according to WTSP. At a gas station next to the restaurant, she allegedly made a call at 9:45 p.m., according to ABC News. Between leaving work and this call, Michelle’s exact activities are unknown. Leo Schofield, her husband at the time, was working a short distance away and she had to pick him up. He got anxious when she didn’t show up.
At 12:43 a.m., Schofield called the police to report Michelle missing because no one knew what had happened to her. Due to being put on hold throughout the 911 call, Schofield was unaware that the call was still being recorded. He is talking to one of his friends, which is audible. “I have a nervous breakdown man, she was on her way here. His behavior in this way is unusual,” Schofield said.
Michelle’s body was discovered in a Florida canal three days later. 26 stab wounds were visible on his body. Schofield was suspected of killing her based on circumstantial evidence. The night before Michelle disappeared, a neighbor reported to police that she heard the couple fighting and observed Leo place a huge object in the trunk of his car before driving off.
An alleged threat to kill Michelle was made by Schofield, according to Michelle’s best friend. The first degree murder was recognized as Schofield’s crime in 1989 after his arrest in June 1988.
After that, in 1991, Schofield met Chrissie Carter, “a former state probation officer who eventually became a therapist and lectured at Schofield Prison.” Along with Carter believing Schofield to be innocent, their friendship would gradually develop and lead to their eventual marriage and adoption of a child.
With a set of unexplained fingerprints found in Michelle’s car, Carter kept digging until she found gold. They belonged to Jeremy Scott, a criminal who was “serving a life sentence for a 1988 homicide” and who had already been convicted of a crime.
Now where is Jeremy Scott?
Jeremy Lynn Scott
Jeremy Scott remains incarcerated at the Florida State Correctional Facility in Raiford, Florida, where he is serving a life sentence. Scott’s fingerprints were discovered in Michelle’s car, leading Schofield’s attorneys to request a new trial. According to ABC News, the request was denied because “the court ruled that Scott’s fingerprints alone would likely not have resulted in an acquittal at a new trial and decided there was no any flaw in the trial evidence that would have led to Leo’s exoneration.”
During a 2016 phone conversation with Scott, who later admitted to killing Michelle, Schofield’s attorney, Andrew Crawford, was present. Unfortunately, there was no recording of the conversation. Scott claimed he would confess to murdering for $1,000 when state authorities examined him. Scott was contacted once again by an investigator who was hired by Schofield’s attorney a year later. It was filmed this time. Scott once again acknowledged that Michelle had been murdered.
The Florida Innocence Project contacted Andrew Crawford and requested a new trial, but was successful in obtaining an evidentiary hearing. As he spoke, Scott admitted to having second thoughts about Michelle’s murder. Schofield’s wife claimed, “They saw it as an about-face which he retracted.” The new lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. Schofield’s situation is now rectified thanks to a podcast.
Schofield’s name to be cleared by ‘Bone Valley’ podcast
The Bone Valley podcast debuted on September 21, 2022, as part of popular media hub Lava for Good. The goal of the podcast is to hopefully secure Schofield’s release from prison. It’s hosted by Gilbert King, “author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Devil in the Grove, which resulted in the exoneration of four innocent men.” Here’s what Scott said during the podcast interview: “Leo is a pure soul. No action was taken by this man. He’s a good guy.
The ideal situation is that the legal system recognizes it. Adnan Syed, who was imprisoned for the murder of Hae Min Lee in 1999, was recently granted parole after serving more than 20 years. It is generally acknowledged that the undisclosed podcast was a significant factor in its release. Leo Schofield could similarly benefit from Bone Valley.
Read more: Did Jeremy Scott murder Michelle Schofield? Where is he now?
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