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Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting AttorneyW554 King C o un ty C o ur th o us e516 T hi rd A v en ueSeattle, Washington 98104(206) 296-9000, FAX (206) 296-0955

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3456 SUPERIOR COURT OF WASHINGTON FOR KING COUNTY7 THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, )Plaintiff, )8 v. ) No. 12-1-01648-4 SEA9

)JAMES WILLIAM SCHUMACHER, ) INFORMATION)10 )

)11 Defendant. )12 I, Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting Attorney for King County in the name and by the

authority of the State of Washington, do accuse JAMES WILLIAM SCHUMACHER of thecrime of Murder in the First Degree, committed as follows:3

14 That the defendant JAMES WILLIAM SCHUMACHER in King County, Washington,during a period of time intervening between March 19,2012 through March 23, 2012, withpremeditated intent to cause the death of another person, did cause the death of JeanSchumacher, a human being, who died on or about 3 /1 9/1 2 - 3 /2 31 20 12 ;

151617 Contrary to RCW 9A.32.030(1)(a), and against the peace and dignity of the State ofWashington.18 And I, Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting Attorney for King County in the name and by

the authority of the State of Washington further do accuse the defendant JAMES WILLIAMSCHUMACHER at said time of being armed with a deadly weapon, to-wit: a hatchet, under theauthority ofRCW 9.94A.825 and 9.94A.533(4).

192021 And I, Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting Attorney for King County in the name and bythe authority of the State of Washington further do allege the crime involves the followingaggravating factor and accuse the defendant JAMES WILLIAM SCHUMACHER of committing22

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INFORMATION - 2Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecu ti ng At to rneyW554 King County Courthouse516 Third AvenueSeattle, Washington 98104(206) 296-9000. FAX (206) 296-0955

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said offense involving domestic violence, as defined in RCW 10.99.020, and the offense was partof an ongoing pattern of psychological, physical or sexual abuse of the same victim or multiplevictims manifested by multiple incidents over a prolonged period of time, under the authority ofRCW 9.94A.535(3)(h)(i).3

4 DANIEL T. SATIERBERGProsecuting Attorney5 .~6 By:Sean P. O'Donnell, WSBA #31488

Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney789

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aO R I G I N A LCAUSE N'1 2 . . 1 - 0 1 6 4 8 - 4 S E ACERTIFICATION FOR DETERMINATION OF PROBABLE CAUSE

56 The following occurred in the City of Bellevue. County of King. State of7 Washington.89 That Detective Robert Thompson is a detective with the BELLEVUE POLICE

10 DEPARTMENT and has reviewed the investigations conducted in BELLEVUE POLICE11 DEPARTMENT Case Number 12-8042 and believes there is probable cause that James William12 Schumacher, DOB:1111711940, committed the act of Murder in the 1stdegree in violation of13 RCW 9A.32.030. This is based on the following information:1415 On March 23rd , 2012 James William Schumacher came into the Bellevue Police16 Department and reported to Officer Shaw that he had murdered his wife a couple days ago.17 Schumacher said his wife had threatened to divorce him and then went to bed and locked herself18 in her bedroom saying she didn't want to be disturbed. Schumacher said he and his wife have19 separate bedrooms and he was mad and paced back and f011hall night in his own room. In the20 morning he got up and went to the garage and selected a hatchet. Schumacher used a nail to21 unlock his wife's bedroom door and entered her room where she was still sleeping. While she22 slept Schumacher told Officer Shaw he then hit her in the head with the hatchet about six times23 and then left the room and put the hatchet back in the garage. At this point, Officer Shaw read24 Schumacher his Miranda Rights and asked if he understood them. Schumacher said he did, and25 continued to talk to Officer Shaw about how and when he killed his wife in her bedroom at their26 residence where they both live. He claimed after killing his wife, he placed her body under the27 bed where she has been dead for the last two days.28 While Schumacher was talking to Officer Shaw, Officer Collins responded to 144 159th29 Ave. SE in Bellevue, Washington where James Schumacher resides. Officer Collins made entry30 into the residence to check on the welfare of Schumacher's wife. Officer Collins reported31 finding a female victim under the bed in one of the bedrooms and that she was dead. He stated32 she appeared to have died as a result of homicidal violence. .33 _ After hearing this information from Officer Collins, I contacted James Schumacher in the34 lobby-of the Bellevue Police Department and placed him under arrest for the murder of his wife.35 Schumacher was brought into an interview room at the Bellevue PD where he was again36 advised of his Constitutional Rights and he stated he understood and would talk to me and37 Detective Mangione. That interview was audio and videotape recorded with Schumacher's38 consent. Schumacher told us that he had been married to his wife Jean Schumacher for 4639 years and that during the time she has belittled him and been condescending. He claimed there40 has been a history of him assaulting her in the past and in fact he has been arrested for assaulting41 her. Schumacher claimed his wife wanted to divorce him and he did not want this to happen.42 On Wednesday morning he woke up and heard his wife get out of her room around 7:30 AM and43 feed the dog. He said she then went back to bed in her room. At around 9:00 AM he left his44 room and went to the garage where he selected a hatchet. Schumacher said he was going to go45 back to his wife's bedroom and "Scare the shit out of her". Her bedroom door was locked but46 he used a nail to by-pass the lock and entered the room where he said his wife appeared to be47 sleeping. Schumacher told us that he thought his wife might be awake and ignoring him so he48 hit her with the blade side ofthe hatchet five or six time with blows to the head. He said he49 believed she was dead and he covered her with the bed sheets and left the room. He then said he50 returned the hatchet to the garage after cleaning the blood off it. He reported going back to hiswife's bedroom and putting his bloody clothes as well as the bloody clothes his wife wore into a

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6R I G I N A L1 large black plastic bag and stuffing it in the bedroom closet. After this he pulled her body off2 the bed and shoved her under the bed where he claims she has been since Wednesday moming.3 Although Schumacher appears to blame his wife for problems in his life, a No Contact Order4 petition in November of2010 reveals statements from Jean Schumacher and her two children5 that tell of fear they had of their husband and father. Jean Schumacher stated,67 "Your Honor,1m velY afraid of my husband although 1on 't like him to know it. Early on8 in the marriage he told me that if1ver tried to leave him he would kill me and has threatened9 me numerous times over these past four decades. 1ave a deep fear of him poisoning my food10 with his medications or rat poison or choking me as he once tried when he was drunk years ago11 or using one of his handguns on me, especially now since he was arrested by the Bellevue Police.12 I've had night mares of him coming after me and I'm running like in slow motion with weights 013 my feet and can't run fast enough to escape him"1415 Schumacher's daughter wrote in the No Contact Order petition:1617 "the respondent is violent, dangerous, unpredictable, untruthful and is a real threat to my18 mother's safety, wellbeing and lifo. He cannot be trusted or allowed near my mother. 'My19 mother lives in constantfear of him an believes he will beat her or otherwise cause her20 debilitating and irreversible harm and death. "2122 Schumacher's son wrote,2324 "My mother is living infear of him. She is convinced he will hurt her or kill her ifpossible as25 retribution for his arrest. I believe he cannot be trusted to not harm her or others over whom he26 has physical control. "2728 Schumacher told your affiant he lives at 144 159th Ave. SE in Bellevue which I know to he in29 the State of Washington, County of King.30 Schumacher said for the next couple days after the murder, he thought about locking up the31 house, getting into his car and just driving away. He also contemplated suicide but decided to32 just tum himself into the police.3334 Based on the statements of James Schumacher that he murdered his wife, and the fact that35 Officer Collins checked the residence of Schumacher and found a woman dead from apparent36 homicidal violence, I believe there is probable cause to believe that James Schumacher37 committed the act of Murder in the I" degree in violation ofRCW 9A.32. 030 when he, with38 premeditation, went to the garage and obtained a deadly weapon and forced his way into a39 locked bedroom and with 5 or 6 blows to the head with the blade edge of a hatchet, did cause the40 death of his wife, Jean Schumacher.414243 Under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of Washington, I certify that th44 foregoing is true and correct. Signed and dated by me this 27rd day of March 2012 at Bellevue,45 King County, Washington State.464748 Detective Robert Thompson

. ~~ ~~e Department /--_--

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Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting AttorneyW554 King County Courthouse516 Third AvenueSeattle, Washington 98104(206) 296-9000, FAX (206) 296-0955

CAUSE NO. 12-1-01648-4 SEA23 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY CASE SUMMARY AND REQUEST FOR BAIL AND/ORCONDITIONS OF RELEASE4 The State incorporates by reference the Certification for Determination of Probable

Cause signed by Bellevue Police Detective Robert Thompson in incident number 12-8042.56 REQUEST FOR BAIL7 Pursuant to CrR 2.2(b)(i-iv) the State requests bail be increased to $2,000,000.00. Bail

was originally set at $1,000,000.00 at first appearance, (6-;; l r~IA,.v~;V\5 ,d-!f; I f" \ ~\ \ ; t l v \ )89

The defendant has confessed to the brutal murder of his wife of 46 years. During hisinterview with investigators, he admitted retrieving a hatchet from his basement and breakinginto his wife's bedroom (which she had locked). The defendant attacked Jean Schumacher as shelay in bed, her eyes closed. The defendant believed that the 71-year-old victim was ignoring himonce he entered the room which made him angry. He told investigators that he struck one blowagainst her head with the blade-edge of the hatchet. He then waited approximately ten secondsbefore hitting her again, repeatedly, to ensure that "the deed" was done.

10111213 Ms. Schumacher died as a result of multiple deep penetrating lacerations to her brain,After the murder, the defendant hid Jean Schumacher's body under her bed, He told neighborsthat he was going on a trip. He told his son not to stop by the family home because his mother

was seeing friends, He took the family dog to the kennel and withdrew thousands of dollarsfrom his bank account and packed his vehicle full of his belongings, all in anticipation of fleeing,

141516 The attack was a culmination of decades of verbal, mental and physical abuse perpetratedby the defendant against his wife. In 2010, Jean Schumacher applied for a protection orderagainst the defendant after he assaulted her without provocation. She wrote in her petition: "I amvery afraid of my husband although Idon't like him to know it. Early on in the marriage he told

me that if I ever tried to leave him he would kill me and has threatened me numerous times overthese past four decades. I have a deep fear of him poisoning my food with his medications or ratpoison or choking me as he once tried when he was drunk years ago or using one of hishandguns on me, especially now since he was arrested by the Bellevue Police. I've hadnightmares of him coming after me and I'm running like in slow motion with weights on my feetand can't run fast enough to escape him."

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Daniel T. Satterberg, Prosecuting AttorneyW554 King County Courthouse516 Third AvenueSeattle, Washington 98104(206) 296-9000, FAX (206) 296-0955

2The defendant's adult children echoed their mother's fear of the defendant. Their

daughter wrote in 2010 that her father "is violent, dangerous, unpredictable, untruthful and is areal threat to my mother's safety, well being and life. He cannot be trusred or allowed near mymother. My mother lives in constant fear of him and believes he will beat her or otherwise causeher debilitating and irreversible harm and death. "

The victim's son similarly-informed the Court that "My mother is living in fear of him.She is convinced he will hurt her or kill her if possible as retribution for his arrest. I believe hecannot be trusted to not harm her or others over whom he has physical control."

At the time of this writing, investigators have found no documented history of any type ofmental illness associated with the defendant.

34567 Given the defendant's violent conduct and decades of abuse towards his wife, the8 defendant presents a clear danger to the community. Additionally, he remains a flight risk and

unlikely to appear for court.9

10 Signed this 27'h day of March, 2012.111213141516171819

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SUPERFORMI CCN/JCN NUMBER f B/A NUMBER I PCN NUMBER[gJ-1 8042

CASE NUMBERo Unincorporated King County[g J City of Bellevue 1 0 ~ I ~=---'F IL E N U M BE R

1 COURT SuperiorARRESTLOCATIONBellevue PO 450 110Ave. NE. Bellevue,WA 98004

PHOt-jE206719-1006

IN CUSTODY ORWRrrE)o SUPERIORCOURTURT

MISDEMEANOR BOOKINGS: Complete to this l ine. FELONY BOOKINGS: Complete both sides.OBJECTION TO RELEASE (MISDEMEANOR-OR FELONY) IS ON REVERSE SIDE.

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S US PE CT N AM E : Schumacher, James William E J - 1~~80-:--:=42:-:::-----,1 0C AS E N U MB ERSTATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE: NON~VUCSA

N C ON CIS EL Y S ET F OR m F AC TS S H OW IN G P RO BA BL E C AU SE F OR E AC H E LE M EN T O F T HE O FF EN SE A ND T HA T T HE S US PE CT CO M M ln ED T HE O FF EN SE .: :~r~) IF N O T P R OV ID E D , T H E S U SP EC T W I L L B E A U TO M A T IC A lL Y R E LE A SE D . I ND IC A TE A N Y W E A PO N I NV O LV E D. ( DR U G C R I ME C E RT IF IC AT E B E LO W .)0 O N D ATE AT TIM E, W ITHIN THE City of Bellevue, CO UN TY O F KING , STATE O F W ASH ING TO N, TH E FO LLO W IN G DID O CCU R:RuGCR See PC Cert,IMEPR0BABlECAU ICERTIFY(OR DECL A RE)UNDERP ENA L TYO F P ERJURYUNDERTI lE L A WS O F THE S TA TEO F REQUEST72-HOURRUSHFILE?S WA S HING TO NTHA TTHE FO REG O INGIS TRUEA NDCO RRECT. YE S 0 N O [g JE I SIGNATURE/AGENCYATEAN D PLACE ANTIC IPATEDFILING D ATE.fKing County Bellevue PO

DRUG CRIME CERTIFICATEPart I: O n (date) the suspect (suspect's nam e) o DEL IVERED o PO SSE SSE D W ITH IN TE NT TO D ELIVE R/M AN UFAC TU RE 0PO SSESSED w hat the unders igned officer (officer's nam e) based on tra ining and experience, believes to be (approx imate quantity and type ofDR controlled substance). Approxim ate street value of the controlled substance is $(vafue of drugs).UG Part If: FACTS IN DICATING THE SUSPECT o DEL IVERED o PO SSESSED W ITH INTEN T TO DELIVER/M ANU FACTURE Dr 0c PO SSESSED THE CO N TRO LLED SUBSTAN CE:< R.". O N (date)AT (tim e), W ITH IN TH E (city/unincorporated area of counM , CO UN TY O F KIN G , STATE O F W ASHIN G TO N

E OcERTIFICATE M y s ou rc e o f I nf or ma ti on a bo ut t his c rim e ( e. g. , m y se lf ,o th e r p e rs o n w i th f ir st ha n d k n ow l ed g e) :

O Olher Facts:I CERTIFY(O R DECL A RE)UNDERP ENA L lYO F P ERJURYUNDERTHE L A WSO F THE S TA TEO FWA S HING TO NTHA TTHE FO REG O INGIS TRUEA ND CO RRECT.DA TEA ND P L A CE: I SIGNATURE{AGENCY: .

R EQ UE ST 7 2H OU R R US H F IL E? S OD A Z ON E r D R UG F RE E Z ON E? E xa ct lo ca tio n Is re qu ire d:YE S 0 NO 0 YE S 0 N O 0 . YES 0 NO 0A NT IC IP AT ED F lU N G D AT E L AB W O RK R EQ U ES TE D? ( Da te fT yp e)

0 L AW E NF OR CE M EN T O BJ EC T T O R EL EA SE ? Y ES [g] NO 0 I F Y E S , E X PL AI N W H Y S AF E TY O F I ND IV ID U AL O R P U BL IC W i ll B E T H R EA T EN E D I F S U S PE C T I SB R E L E AS E D O N B A IL O R R E C O G N IZ A N CE ( C ON S ID E R H I ST O R Y O F V I OL E N C E, M E N T A L I L L N ES S , D R U G D E P E ND E N C Y , D R U G D E A LI N G, D O C U M E N TE D G A N GJ M E M B ER , F AI LU R E T O A P P EA R , L AC K O F T IE S T O C O M M UN IT Y ). I NC L UD E F A RR G U iD E LI NE S . O E SC R IB E T Y PE O F W E AP O N. B E SP E CIF IC . AlthoughE Suspect Schumacher turned himself in and reported this incident, he admittedly withdrew a large amount of cashCT and considered suicide or leaving for the East coast or Canada.T0RE TiES TO C OM M U NIT Y (M A RIT AL S TA TU S, T IM E iN C OU N TY , E TC .) Suspect Schumacher is retired, has children in the area but has'.. . limited contact with them ..~.~.~ .-SE CO N VICTIO N R ECO R D: ~ ~o S UB JE CT A RM E D/D AN G ER OU S o SUSPECT ID ENTITY IN Q UESTIO N o W AR RAN T(S) FO R FTAo HISTO R Y O F FTA'S (L1ST)_~

PRELIMINARYAPPEARANCEDATE I JUDG E" I BA IL A MO UNT $0PA RETURNDA TE I CONDITIONS I P.R. I RETURNED I EXCUS EDYO N O vu NO yo NO

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