Thomas Schiro
Murderer
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Vanderburgh County, Indiana, USA
- Date of birth
- December 22, 1960
- Age at first offence
- 21
- Characteristics
- rape, sex with corpse
- Victim profile
- Laura Luebbehusen, 28
- Method of murder
- Strangulation
- Date(s) of murder
- February 5, 1981
- Years active
- 1981
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on October 2, 1981.
Overview
Thomas Schiro was sentenced to death on October 2, 1981.
The offence
Schiro was serving a 3 year suspended sentence for Robbery (C Felony). He went to the home of Laura Luebbehausen and gained entrance on the pretext that he had car trouble and needed to use the telephone. Once inside, Schiro used the bathroom with permission, exposed himself, and assured Luebbehausen that she need not fear because he was "gay."
During the conversation, Luebbehausen revealed that she had been sexually abused as a child and was a lesbian. Over the next few hours, Luebbehausen would be raped repeatedly. Schiro then took her to get more liquor and, upon return, raped her a third time then passed out. When Schiro awoke, he found Luebbehausen headed out the door. He dragged her to the bedroom. When he thought she was asleep, he beat her with a vodka bottle, then an iron, then strangled her to death. He then dragged her body into another room and sexually assaulted the corpse. He straightened up the house before leaving.
Investigation
Leubbehausen's car was found abandoned near the Halfway House two days later. Schiro received assistance of Halfway house employees in falsifying documents showing his whereabouts, but later confessed to a counselor, and to his girlfriend who he visited just after the murder.
Trial
An insanity defense was presented at trial. No less than 5 experts testified at trial, none of which gave an opinion that Schiro was insane at the time of the crime. The jury returned a verdict against a Death Sentence after less than 1 hour deliberations.
Conviction: Felony-Murder (Murder verdict left blank by jury)
Sentencing
Judge Samuel L. Rosen sentenced Schiro to death anyway, noting that Schiro had constantly rocked back and forth throughout the trial, but only in front of the jury. Sentencing: October 2, 1981 (Death Sentence). Judge Overrides Jury Recommendation against Death Sentence.
Aggravating Circumstances: b (1) Rape Mitigating Circumstances: 20 years old at the time of the murder, sick, rejected, tormented, victim of forced beyond his control.
Outcome
Schiro was sentenced to death on October 2, 1981.
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