In the spring of 2009, the life of Kelly Wing Schmidt, a 39-year-old Caucasian mother of five, came to a tragic and violent end in Grand Chute, Wisconsin. On the morning of April 17th, an argument with her estranged husband, Scott Schmidt, escalated into a fatal encounter in the driveway of the home they once shared. Scott, an off-duty Appleton fire lieutenant, had parked his car about half a mile away before confronting Kelly. The dispute turned deadly when Scott produced a.
22 caliber revolver and shot Kelly multiple times.
The violence did not end with Kelly. Her mother, Barbara Wing, who was present at the scene, was also shot and wounded as she tried to intervene. Two of the couple's children were inside the home at the time of the shooting but were physically unharmed. An Appleton police officer who was nearby arrived on the scene quickly. Upon seeing the officer, Scott Schmidt dropped his weapon and was taken into custody without further incident. Kelly was rushed to a local hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries, which included multiple gunshot wounds to the head.
Scott Schmidt was arrested and charged with first-degree intentional homicide for the death of his wife and attempted first-degree homicide for the shooting of his mother-in-law. During his trial, his defense argued that he did not intend to kill his wife, claiming he was provoked. However, the jury rejected this defense. Testimony from Barbara Wing was particularly chilling, as she recounted how Scott shot her daughter, then shot her as she approached, and then shot Kelly again before calmly lighting a cigarette next to her body.
In March 2010, a jury found Scott Schmidt guilty of first-degree intentional homicide. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole not available until 2050. The case drew significant media attention, which led to the trial being moved to a different county. In addition to his criminal conviction, Scott Schmidt also faced a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his stepson, resulting in a court order to pay significant damages. His appeals for a new trial were ultimately denied, solidifying his conviction and sentence.
