Crescent man facing first degree murder charge for death of his wife

Update June 14, 2013 – Mark Schemm was formally arraigned on Friday afternoon in front of Judge Robert L. Hudson inside the Logan County Courthouse.

Schemm will be held without bond and is scheduled to be back in court on July 25.

Original Story – A Logan County man has been arrested after he admitted to investigators that he killed his wife, but allegedly staged the scene as if it were a robbery-murder attempt.

Mark Alan Schemm

Mark Alan Schemm, 52, of Crescent is possibly facing one count of first degree murder for killing his wife, Monica Schemm. He is scheduled to be formally arraigned as early as Friday.

The Logan County Sheriff’s Office requested the help of Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation at 560 Ruth Lane, in Crescent, after receiving a 911 call from Schemm’s son, who found his mother dead in the bedroom shortly after 6 p.m. on Wednesday.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Schemm admitted his wife had been begging him to kill her for a long time after she had gone through chemotherapy and was later severely handicapped from a fall where she suffered a severe brain injury and required 24-hour care.

The probable cause goes on to say that Schemm bound Monica’s legs and as he did she had awoken and asked “is it time” and he replied “yes”. The affidavit indicates Monica died of asphyxiation.

Schemm later told investigators he had planned to kill himself moments later but chickened out.

Schemm first told investigators he heard his wife scream from the bedroom and went to investigate when he saw two Hispanic males, one armed with a gun, tie his wife down and kill her. Afterwards, Schemm claimed the two males secured his feet and hands to a wooden chair and attempted to kill him, but was able to escape the attempt after they had left the home.

Schemm later admitted to staging the murder-robbery scene and directed investigators to a tractor where he had hidden his wife’s jewelry after taking them from her jewelry box. Along with the jewelry, Schemm directed investigators to gloves and duct tape which he had placed in tall grass just west of the home.

Side note: The Oklahoman ran a story on the Schemm’s and their battles with injuries. Guthrie News Page would like to share that story as well. Read it at http://newsok.com/schemm-familys-faith-tested/article/2354835