The State Finance Council on Thursday approved the settlement for the family of Olin “Pete” Coones, who spent 12 years in prison before he was exonerated in November. Coones died of cancer in February, 108 days after he was released from prison.
What happened to Pete Coones after he was exonerated?
On November 5, 2020, more than 10 years after he was wrongly convicted of murder in Kansas City, Kansas, Olin “Pete” Coones was exonerated and released from prison. He was serving a sentence of 25 years to life for the 2008 murder of 45-year-old Kathleen Schroll, who had been the housekeeper for Pete’s late grandfather.
Who is Pete Coones Jr?
Olin “Pete” Coones Jr. was charged and arrested with the first-degree murder of Kathleen and Carl Schroll within days of the incident — while he was driving two of his children to school.
What really happened to Michael Coones?
In 2009, Coones was convicted of the murder of Kathleen Schroll in Kansas City, Kansas, but it was later deemed to be a wrongful conviction in what was actually a murder-suicide, the Midwest Innocence Project wrote.
How long was Pete Coones in jail for Kathleen Schroll?
He was acquitted of Carl Schroll’s murder but convicted of Kathleen’s and sentenced to 25 years to life. What happened to Olin “Pete” Coones?
Is Coones' estate a wrongful conviction?
Coones' estate opted to continue his claim under the state's wrongful conviction statute. In addition to the monetary compensation, records of his arrest and conviction will be expunged and his family will be given an official document certifying his innocence.
Was Coones' conviction based on a jailhouse informant?
His conviction was in large part based on the testimony of a jailhouse informant and Coones ' lawyers argue the prosecuti on negligently handled evidence, which could have exonerated him.
Why did the police go after Coones?
Despite the lack of evidence indicating a struggle or forced entry, and with no DNA or gunshot residue evidence tying Coones to the scene, authorities and prosecutors went after him because of a phone call between Schroll and her mother before her death. Coones’ attorney said: This was a classic case of tunnel vision.
When did Coones die?
And I finally had to shut up on that because she’d get mad at me every time I’d bring it up.”. Coones, 64, died on February 21, 2021, just 108 days after he was exonerated in the Schroll murder-suicide that had been staged to look like a double homicide.
Why did Schroll choose Coones?
Coones was chosen because Schroll wanted to get back at him for a legal suit he was winning regarding his father’s inheritance money.
How long did Deirdre Coones stay with him?
He said, “I spent 12-and-a-half years trying to talk her into divorcing me, so she could move on with her life because I loved her so much.
Where is the man accused of Kathleen Schroll?
Olin ‘Pete’ Coones Now: Where Is the Man Accused in Kathleen Schroll Case Today? Olin “Pete” Coones was arrested and charged with the murder of Kathleen Schroll, who was found dead alongside her husband Carl Schroll in Kansas City, Kansas, on April 7, 2008.
Who exonerated Kathleen Schroll?
On November 5, 2020, Wyandotte County District Court Judge Bill Klapper exonerated Coones, Law and Crime reported. In vacating the conviction, the judge said prosecutors did not reveal key information that would have shown Kathleen Schroll’s motive to die by suicide and cast doubt on her credibility. There was also no DNA or any other evidence tying Coones to the scene and gunshot residue was found on Kathleen Schroll.
Who was the housekeeper of Coones' father?
A few minutes before, Kathleen Schroll had called her family, not 911, to say that Coones was in their home and had threatened to kill them both. Kathleen Schroll was the housekeeper of Coones’ late father and the two had been involved in a legal dispute over the inheritance and life insurance after Coones’ father’s death.
Who Was Olin “Pete” Coones?
Olin “Pete” Coones Jr. and Kathleen Schroll were introduced to each other in the mid-2000s when the latter was hired to help take care of his father, who suffered from dementia. A few years later, though, after the elder Coones passed away, their relationship turned into one of hostility. After all, Olin discovered that Kathleen was named as a beneficiary for his father’s life insurance from a change made online, without power of attorney. What ensued was a legal battle, with the federal court left to determine who the actual recipient would be.
What evidence did Olin have?
However, one of the most critical pieces of evidence was Olin’s alibi. He insisted he was at home with his wife, daughter, and her fiancé on the night of the incident, and all of them testified on his behalf. Moreover, his computer showed that someone had logged in under his profile twice that night — at 1:07 am and 4:51 am, and it was during this time that the incident had transpired. This, along with an apparent motive, led to his conviction. But there’s more to this story.
Who was the person who killed Carl and Kathleen?
It was around this time that Kathleen and Carl were shot to death. Olin faced two trials for the same, where he was convicted of Kathleen’s murder and acquitted of Carl’s.
Where was Pete in the trial?
In January 2009, Pete went to trial in Wyandotte County District Court. The prosecution’s case relied primarily on the evidence of the phone call Kathleen made to her mother, the testimony of Kathleen’s daughter that Pete had made threats, and the forensic and physical evidence—though none of that evidence implicated Pete.
When was Pete convicted of the murder of Kathleen?
On January 23, 2009, the jury convicted Pete of the murder of Kathleen and acquitted him of the murder of Carl. He was sentenced to 50 years to life in prison.
What happened to Kathleen in 2008?
The crime occurred in the early morning hours of April 7, 2008. Kathleen was mired in debt, facing imminent arrest for embezzlement, and losing a legal battle for Pete’s grandfather’s estate. She fatally shot her 64-year-old husband, Carl and then, telephoned her mother for help, saying that Pete had killed Carl and was about to kill her too. At that point, the phone went dead.
Why didn't Kathleen tell Carl about Pete?
Kathleen had said that she didn’t tell him because she and Carl were experiencing “marital tension.”
What happened to Carl Schroll?
Carl Schroll was found sprawled across the bed. He had two gunshot wounds to the abdomen and what appeared to be a laceration on his head. A pillow had a hole in it with stuffing hanging out. There was no sign of forced entry and a police sergeant on the scene told dispatch that it was “possibly” a murder-suicide.
Where did Kathleen go to work?
On April 5, Kathleen went to work at the Midwest Regional Credit Union where she was a systems analyst. She told co-workers that she had seen Pete that morning at a gas station and he had threatened her. On Sunday, April 6, Kathleen told her daughter that Pete had threatened her, but gave a different account.
Who was the employee at Olin's bank?
Meanwhile, Theresa Harding, an employee at Olin’s bank, became concerned about Olin’s well-being and asked him to come to the bank. Olin arrived with Kathleen, who refused to allow Harding to speak privately with Olin. After an argument, Kathleen relented.
Where is Olin “Pete” Coones’ Family Now?
According to the statement released by Midwest Innocence Project and the law firm of Morgan Pilate following Olin’s demise, “during this too-short return to his family, [Olin] met his grandchildren for the first time, having been deprived of their joy and laughter for over a decade. Like so many grandfathers, he was smitten with them and wanted nothing more than to be their reliable source of extra treats and flexible rules.” In the 108 days he had with his family, Olin spent every possible moment with them, especially with his wife of 40 years, his guidance, Dee.
How long did Olin stay with his family?
Like so many grandfathers, he was smitten with them and wanted nothing more than to be their reliable source of extra treats and flexible rules.”. In the 108 days he had with his family, Olin spent every possible moment with them, especially with his wife of 40 years, his guidance, Dee.
How many children did Olin have?
And although they found nothing concrete, he was still indicted, leaving his wife, Dee, and their five children, Jeremiah, Ben, Quinn, Mariah, and Melody, ...
Who was the person killed in the phone call?
Although the evidence made even the authorities suspect a murder-suicide at first, a few interviews with Kathleen’s family led to the arrest of Olin “Pete” Coones, a man she’d met while acting as a caretaker for his father. Olin was subsequently tried, convicted, and exonerated in connection to the crime, but the way it affected him and his family is not something they can easily let go of.
A Horrifying Phone Call
- 45-year-old Kathleen Schroll and her husband, 64-year-old Carl Schroll, were found dead inside their Kansas City home by police officers on April 7, 2008. Carl had been shot in the chest twice. Kathleen had been shot once in the back of the head. There were no indications of forced entry or a struggle, and nothing was taken from the home. The police found Kathleen’s phone and a gun …
No Physical Evidence
- In the Prosecutor’s case, they alleged that because things were moving too slow regarding the issues with his father’s estate, Pete decided to take care of the situation himself and committed the double murder. The Prosecution believed that Kathleen’s phone call to her mother and her front door being partially open when the police arrived were proof of Coones’ guilt. The Defense …
Framed For Murder
- Pete was granted a retrial after an appeal because it was discovered that the State did not divulge crucial evidence concerning his alibi. During the second trial, a testimony from a prison informant tipped the case towards the Prosecutor’s side. Pete was again found guilty of murder, and his life in prison continued. In November 2020, Pete’s legal team successfully argued that the deaths o…
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who was Pete Coones?
Pete Coones was a man from Kansas City who served jail time for a wrongful conviction. He was charged with the deaths of Kathleen and Carl Schroll in April 2008. He was later exonerated in November 2020 after the Schroll’s deaths were determined to be a murder-suicide committed b… - Is Pete Coones still alive?
Kansas man Pete Coones died just a few months after being exonerated in a staged double homicide that turned out to be a murder-suicide. Coones was 64-years-old when he succumbed to cancer that went undiagnosed and untreated while he was serving time in prison.