In the days leading up to her death, 36-year-old Julie Schmidtke lived in a state of fear. Residing in her Columbus, Indiana home on Sumpter Court, the preschool teacher and mother took precautions like installing cameras and changing the locks to protect herself and her children. She was five months pregnant and in the process of divorcing her husband of a few months, Charles W. Schmidtke, 41. Five days before her death, she officially filed for the dissolution of their marriage.
Her fear of her estranged husband was so significant that she had sought a protective order against him, alleging physical harm, sexual offense, and repeated harassment. Despite her pleas and evidence, a judge denied her request just ten days before the fatal encounter.
On the evening of December 19, 2022, police were dispatched to Schmidtke's home following a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered a horrific scene. Julie Schmidtke was found dead, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Her estranged husband, Charles, was also found deceased in the residence from a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe Charles broke into the home, possibly after an argument, and shot his wife before taking his own life. According to family members, the tragic event unfolded in front of the couple's two sons.
The aftermath of the apparent murder-suicide left the community in shock and Julie's family heartbroken and outraged. They firmly believe that the denial of the protective order was a critical failure of the legal system that could have prevented her death. The case has raised significant questions about the process for obtaining protective orders and the measures in place to protect individuals in domestic violence situations. The Columbus Police Department's investigation into the double fatality confirmed the tragic sequence of events, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a beloved mother and her unborn child.
