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Wilma Schwartz Murder Details Explore: Who Was The Prime Suspect?

Wilma Schwartz went missing for days before her body was later discovered in a yard near Antwerp, Ohio. This incident happened in March 2016. The police launched an investigation to identify the suspect. In this post, we will take a look at what the police have found so far.

Wilma Schwartz Murder Details Explore: Who Was The Prime Suspect?

Schwartz spent her formative years in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and continued to raise her family there. According to her family, she was brought up in an Amish community. At the time of this incident, she was 44 years old and married to Daniel Zerbe, with a son named Benjamin. Their bond was strong, making it unusual for her to miss picking up Benjamin from school.

On March 9, 2016, a neighbour reported Wilma missing. A significant turn of events occurred on March 14, 2016, when construction workers arrived at an Antwerp residence around 10:40 a.m. They stumbled upon a shocking discovery – the lifeless body of Wilma in the yard. The distressing find prompted a call to 911, and upon investigation, it was determined that Wilma had been murdered. Her tragic demise was the result of a gunshot wound that passed through her hand and struck her head. The circumstances pointed to a scenario where she had been slain elsewhere and then dumped in the yard.

Wilma’s injuries indicated that she had tried to defend herself, with a hand-wound suggesting a struggle. An investigation led to the discovery of a 9mm bullet concealed between her clothing and behind her neck, confirming the murder weapon. The focus of the investigation shifted to Wilma’s personal life. It was revealed that her relationship with her boyfriend, Daniel Zerbe, was tumultuous, as authorities discovered. Both individuals had a history of criminal activities, including Daniel’s prior arrest on meth-related charges. The search for Wilma’s whereabouts led to the discovery of her abandoned car in a Markle, Indiana, workplace parking lot two days after she was reported missing. The vehicle held crucial evidence – the passenger seat bore red streaks resembling blood, gloves were stained similarly, and a spent shell casing was recovered for analysis.

Surveillance footage implicated Daniel, who was seen leaving the car in the company of another woman named Lisa King. Subsequent events revealed that Daniel and Lisa were picked up by Daniel’s brother, LeRoy, and dropped off at an Auburn, Indiana, hotel. It was further discovered that Daniel had purchased cleaning supplies, likely in an attempt to erase traces of the crime. Investigators believed that Wilma had been killed in the car, her body was subsequently discarded in Antwerp before Daniel tried to clean up and abandon the vehicle.

Daniel’s arrest on unrelated charges led to the discovery of a 9mm handgun in his possession, which was later subjected to analysis. This firearm was identified as the murder weapon, linking Wilma’s death to her romantic partner. The investigation also uncovered a crucial detail: one of the cell phones found in the car pinged cell towers near the location where Wilma’s body had been discovered on March 9, 2016. However, the owner of the phone remained unidentified.

In the course of events, Lisa cooperated with authorities, resulting in the dropping of evidence tampering charges against her. In November 2017, Daniel Zerbe, then 44 years old, pleaded guilty to the murder of Wilma Schwartz. As part of his plea deal, the gun-related requirement was waived. He received a sentence of 15 years to life in prison, with credit for time already served. During the trial, Daniel expressed remorse, stating, “I deeply regret everything that occurred. Wilma was dear to me.” Presently, prison records indicate that he is incarcerated at the Chillicothe Correction Institution in Ross County, Ohio. Daniel becomes eligible for parole in 2032.

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    Abbie Anker

    Update: 2024-05-17