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.
Full Answer
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.
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?
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.
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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 charged with the death of Kathleen Schroll?
Coones was charged in 2008 in the death of Kathleen Schroll.
Did Coones say he was never going home?
In an interview with 41 Action News days after his release, Coones said he thought he was never coming home. “I didn’t need a miracle, I just needed the truth," Coones said, "and I got a miracle of truth, and so, that’s a double blessing.".
Why was Coones the focus of the investigation?
But because of the phone call, Coones became the focus of the investigation, his attorneys argued. The state’s case against Coones largely centered on that call, the informant’s testimony and Coones’ legal dispute with Schroll. At trial, the prosecutor argued Coones was not getting the results he wanted from police.
Why did Coones wake up his children?
By 6 a.m., she heard Coones calling to wake up his other children because walking up stairs made him sick. He had previously suffered two strokes and a heart attack, his attorneys said.
What did Rupert tell the jury?
Rupert told the jury Coones would talk with him when Rupert was working on a legal claim. As they spoke, Coones talked about his pending charges and confessed to the shooting, Rupert testified.
How many checks did the Coones send to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation?
As part of the police investigation, detectives sent 120 of the elder Coones’ checks to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, which determined it was unlikely he wrote 118 of them, but he could not be ruled out as the signatory.
What time did the Coones computer show someone?
Information on Coones’ computer showed someone was on the device from 1 a.m. to 2:28 a.m., according to Coones’ lawyers.
How much money was written to Schroll after Coones' sister died?
In the months after Coones’ sister died, leaving his father in the care of Schroll, checks for more than $28,000 were written from the father’s account to Schroll. Thousands were withdrawn from his savings.
What did the prosecutor tell the informant before he began questioning him?
Before he began questioning the informant, the prosecutor told him: “Let’s put you up for the jury’s inspection, bark and all, okay.”
What happened to Pete Coones?
Then an officer pulled up in a squad car and pointed a shotgun in Ben’s face. Coones’ children were handcuffed. Coones, who was 50 at the time, was charged with first-degree murder in a fatal shooting that unfolded hours earlier.
Who are Pete Coones' children?
Pete Coones’ children, Ben and Melody, speak with Dateline NBC about their father’s wrongful conviction. Dateline NBC
How did Coones die?
In November, Coones was exonerated and freed after his attorneys revealed the shooting was more likely a murder-suicide carried out by Kathleen. Coones died 108 days later on Feb. 21 from cancer that his lawyers say went undiagnosed during his wrongful incarceration. He was 64.
Did the Coones children get a wrongful conviction?
Lawmakers said afterward they were deeply moved by Coones’ children. The Kansas House last week unanimously passed the bill, which Coones’ children said could have prevented their father’s wrongful conviction. His children have since called on the state Senate to take swift action to help prevent wrongful convictions.
Was Coones convicted of killing Kathleen?
After two trials, Coones was convicted of killing Kathleen, but not Carl. His conviction was based in part on the word of an unreliable jailhouse informant who had a history that included at least 15 crimes of dishonesty, such as theft and burglary.
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 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, ...
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.
Who framed Coones?
As The Daily Beast reported last year, Coones’ defense lawyer argued that Kathleen Schroll framed Coones for the murder, given her history of alleged financial abuse as Coones’ father’s caretaker before his death. “What happened to me is wrong,” Coones told The Kansas City Star after being released in November.
What did the pillow maven complain about?
The pillow maven complained the conservative network has not given him enough of a platform.
Who killed his father's housekeeper?
A Kansas man who was wrongfully convicted in the murder-suicide of his father’s former housekeeper and her husband has died just 108 days after being released from prison. Pete Coones, 64, served 12 years in prison after being convicted for the 2008 deaths of Kathleen and Carl Schroll, despite no physical evidence connecting him to the crime, and his daughter and her boyfriend testifying that Coones was home in the hours leading up to the Schrolls’ deaths. Coones was convicted in part with the use of the testimony of a jailhouse informant, which The Innocence Project calls one of the “leading contributing factors of wrongful convictions nationally” due to its high prevalence in cases that were later overturned. As The Daily Beast reported last year, Coones’ defense lawyer argued that Kathleen Schroll framed Coones for the murder, given her history of alleged financial abuse as Coones’ father’s caretaker before his death. “What happened to me is wrong,” Coones told The Kansas City Star after being released in November. “It shouldn’t happen to anybody.”
How long was Coones in prison?
Coones had been serving a sentence of 25 to life when his conviction was vacated. He said in an interview after his release that his wife Deirdre Coones stood by his side while he was in prison even though he had insisted she leave him for her own good.
Did the exonerated defendant have DNA?
No gunshot residue, DNA, or other evidence tied the exonerated defendant to the crime, but there was gunshot residue on Kathleen.
Did Coones confess to Carl Schroll?
Wyandotte County District Court Judge Bill Klapper vacated Coones’ conviction last Nov. 5, saying prosecutors failed to reveal evidence that undermined Schroll’s credibility and didn’t show her motive to die by suicide. Prosecutors also did not give evidence that called into question an unreliable jailhouse informant who claimed Coones confessed to him. Authorities even failed to initially find a fourth bullet buried in a pillow near Carl Schroll.
Who exploited Olin Coones?
The Kansas Department for Children and Families sent Schroll a letter in 2006 alerting her it found she financially exploited Olin Coones Sr., according to the AP. That case was referred to the district attorney’s office for charges, but the prosecution was declined. Prosecutors did not provide a reason.
Who is the sole owner of Coones Sr.'s home?
The death of Coones’ sister also meant Schroll was the sole owner of Coones Sr.’s home, according to the AP. After the elder Coones died, Pete Coones learned Schroll had been listed as a beneficiary of his father’s life insurance -- something that had been done online without power of attorney, the AP reported.
Why was Kathleen Schroll hired?
The AP reported Kathleen Schroll had been hired part-time by Coones’ sister to help take care of their father, who suffered from dementia. Coones’ sister died, and his attorneys say that in the months afterward checks for more than $28,000 were written from the father’s account to Schroll, the AP reported.
What did the convict integrity unit find?
In addition, Dupree said the state never turned financial evidence over to the defense, and the Conviction Integrity Unit found swabs from Schroll's hands that tested positive for gunshot residue. Those swabs were not tested as part of the original case against Coones.
Was there physical evidence linking Coones to the killing?
The defense said there was no physical evidence tying Coones to the killing and that the prosecution bolstered its case with testimony from a dubious jailhouse informant, according to the AP.