The disappearance and death of 18-year-old Michelle Saum Schofield in 1987 is a case that has plagued the nation for decades, with twists and turns every step of the way. After all, although her husband Leo Schofield was later convicted of murder, as chronicled in “20/20: The Last Time in Lakeland,” there were others who could be responsible. But for now, if you just want to learn more about the individual who eventually found her remains—relatively newlywed father-in-law Leo Schofield Sr.—we’ve got you covered.
Who is Old Leo Schofield?
While details of Leo’s personal and professional history prior to the incident are unclear, we do know that the Schofields moved from Massachusetts to Florida in the early 1980s. They did seem like an almost idyllic happy family, but that changed when his namesake wife of a little over six months suddenly disappeared on the night of February 24, 1987. That’s because even though his son was the one he contacted shortly after midnight, he and the police began searching for her, and he was also the one who was quickly convicted.
As for the role of Leo Sr., he gave up everything for a ride around town with his son Looking for Michelle Help him make a few calls to the nearby hospital and her parents whenever possible. His wife did take over a few hours later, only to have him rejoin the search the next morning, reportedly continuing to help, leading her to find her bloody remains on the 27th. He testified at his son’s trial in 1989 that an “inner force” or God urged him to go straight to the canal along State Route 33, where he found his daughter-in-law under a piece of plywood.
Where is Leo Schofield Sr. now?
As far as we can tell, the Schofields moved forever to Idaho in the mid-to-late 1990s, hoping to do everything in their power to start their lives over again, but legal problems soon arose.This time, though, the credit goes to Leo Robert Schofield Sr. – who was convicted in November 2010 for BDSM Sometime between 2006 and 2009, a family member under the age of 16. The then Bellevue resident subsequently (in the summer of 2011) entered a plea of guilty to Alford, meaning he pleaded not guilty but admitted there was sufficient evidence to convict at trial.
The charges against Leo carry a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison, but his guilty plea gave him a reduced sentence of 12 years and is already serving time in the county jail.He was actually identified as a repeat offender because he was in “high risk” Once again committing such a serious crime and having a “long history of denial”. He is understood to have been convicted in Rhode Island in 1987 of having sex with a 9-year-old child and was wanted in Massachusetts on similar charges — the latter of which did not seek extradition.
“I know what I did, I know what I didn’t do,” Leo told the court at the sentencing hearing. “I didn’t do that, but somehow I feel guilty about it.” So today, the 80-year-old felon is being held at the medium-security Idaho Correctional Facility in Boise. It must be noted that he will be released after his sentence expires on October 30, 2022.
Read more: Where is Leo Schofield’s wife Crissie Carter Schofield now?