THE DISAPPEARANCE of Michelle Schofield resulted in law enforcement’s arrest of the person believed to be responsible.
When Michelle’s missing persons case evolved into a homicide investigation, police apprehended her husband Leo Schofield.
Who was Michelle Schofield?
Michelle Schofield was an 18-year-old Florida woman from the town of Lakeland.
She worked at a local burger eatery named Tom’s Restaurant and was married to Leo Schofield.
On February 24, 1987, Michelle went missing and local authorities began a search for her whereabouts.
However, the day she vanished was the last time anyone would see the young woman alive.
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What happened to Michelle?
The Tuesday that Michelle disappeared, she was on her way home after a night at work.
When she didn’t meet up with her husband Leo for their plans that night, he alerted the police.
On Wednesday, February 25, Michelle’s orange Mazda hatchback was found unlocked on the side of the road of the local interstate.
On Friday, February 27, the woman’s lifeless body was found seven miles away from where her car was found days before.
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An autopsy report concluded that Michelle died after she was stabbed 26 times and lost five pints of blood.
On June 24, 1988, Leo Schofield was arrested for the murder of his late wife.
At his trial, he disputed allegations from a number of witnesses and claimed that he was with Michelle’s father at the time the homicide was believed to have taken place.
However, 21 additional character witnesses spoke out about the tumultuous nature of the couple’s marriage.
On April 5, 1989, Leo’s trial ended with his conviction for the first-degree murder of his late wife and he was sentenced to life in prison.
The circumstances surrounding Michelle’s homicide case are retold in an episode of 20/20.
How can I watch Michelle’s episode of 20/20?
Michelle’s death and Leo’s trial are revisited in an episode of ABC’s 20/20 titled Last Seen in Lakeland.
Scheduled to broadcast on September 23, 2022, true crime sleuths can catch Last Seen in Lakeland at 9pm EST on the aforementioned network.
The episode features anchor Amy Robach as she sits down with Leo, his second wife Chrissie, fellow reporter Gilbert King, and several others who were involved with the investigation as Leo maintains his innocence in Michelle’s tragedy.
For those that miss the initial broadcast, viewers can check out Michelle’s episode by streaming it on Hulu.