Jurors hear evidence in mercy killing murder trial

April 25--EDMOND -- Testimony is underway in the trial of a Logan County man accused of murdering his wife by placing a plastic sack over her head and causing her to suffocate.

On June 13, 2013, Logan County District Attorney Tom Lee filed a first-degree murder charge against Mark Schemm, 53, of Crescent, who told an OSBI agent in court records he killed Monica Schemm, his wife, because she asked him to kill her.

In December, Schemm entered a plea of not guilty. On Monday, a jury was selected and sworn. Testimony began Wednesday. The trial was scheduled to resume Thursday morning.

The state's witness and exhibit list includes Logan County Sheriff's Office Deputy James Poe, who responded to the call with Sgt. David Hynd and other officers and was one of the first to arrive at the scene. Hynd and several OSBI agents including lead Agent Michael Dean, the defendant's son KC Schemm, several sheriff's office investigators and a forensic pathologist will testify the cause of death was suffocation and the manner of death was homicide.

State exhibits include a recorded interview of the defendant, a crime scene diagram, the autopsy diagram and photos of the crime scene with the defendant at his home, the defendant's clothing at the time of his arrest and of evidence collected.

Anticipated defense witness include Mark Schemm, who may testify in his defense regarding the events leading up to and encompassing the alleged crime, relatives who will testify about the defendant's relationship with his wife and their physical and mental condition at the time of her death and a long list of character witnesses who will testify about Mark and Monica's physical and mental condition.

Other anticipated defense witnesses include a retired OSBI agent, a defense consultant, a Tulsa psychologist who submitted a psychological evaluation report and will testify about the defendant's psychological condition and a pathologist who reviewed about 300 pages of the victim's medical records.

Anticipated defense exhibits include photos, documents and evidence possessed by the state, a photo of the victim, her advance directive for health care and her advance directive for mental health treatment.

CASE BACKGROUND

At 6:15 p.m. on June 12, 2013, the Logan County Sheriff's Office received a 911 call from KC Schemm who arrived and found his father Mark Schemm at his Crescent home, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Dean in Logan County District Court.

Mark told KC his mother was in the bedroom where KC ripped open a plastic bag on her face and could see she was deceased, Dean stated.

OSBI Agent Rick Brown questioned Mark Schemm who said a severe brain injury left his wife needing 24-hour medical care for the past couple of years.

Schemm said on the morning of June 12, 2013, he came home from work at about 6:30 a.m. and KC left for work while Monica was asleep in her bedroom at the other end of the house, Dean stated.

That afternoon, Schemm said, he heard Monica yell for help and as he entered the bedroom. Two Hispanic males were using zip ties to bind her hands and ankles, Dean stated. Schemm said they placed a plastic sack over her head and used duct tape to seal it, Dean stated.

Schemm said the males -- one of them was armed with a gun -- then forced him into the kitchen where they forced him to place a plastic bag over his own head, forced him to seal it with duct tape and zip-tied his hands and feet to the chair, Dean stated.

One of the males asked Schemm where he kept "the stuff" and Schemm told them he kept $3,000 in cash in a tea pot on the shelf, Dean stated.

Schemm said he was able to bite a hole in the plastic bag to breath, Dean stated.

Later that day, Dean stated, he left the crime scene and assisted in the questioning of Mark Schemm, who admitted his wife had been begging him to kill her for a long time. He claimed she even tried to kill herself several times.

During the morning of June 12, Schemm claimed, his wife asked him to kill her and he agreed, Dean stated. He claimed while he zip-tied her hands, she awoke and said "Is it time?" and he said "Yes, I'm ready," Dean stated. Schemm said he zip-tied her feet, put a plastic bag over her head and secured it with duct tape, Dean stated.

Schemm said she struggled very little and died in about five minutes, Dean stated. He said he killed her because she wanted him to and she was suffering, Dean stated.

Schemm had a $300,000 life insurance policy on his wife and a $500,000 policy on himself, Dean stated.

[email protected] -- 341-2121, ext. 108

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