Unresolved child death case in Greenfield; Ronald Schroeder guilty at trial

MILWAUKEE – On Wednesday, a Milwaukee County jury found Ronald Schroeder guilty in the 1991 death of his infant daughter.

The week-and-a-half-long trial ended with Schroeder being convicted of first-degree reckless homicide and child abuse. The jury began deliberating on Tuesday just after 3 p.m., and reached its verdict around 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

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The death of seven-week-old Catherine Schroeder was ruled a homicide due to blunt force trauma, which was initially reported to be the result of shaken baby syndrome. Those testifying included medical experts, first responders and Schroeder’s exes.

Prosecutors argued that evidence and testimony showed that Schroeder abused and shook his daughter in 1991, leading to her death.

“When this accused abused his daughter, he watched what he was doing. He knew what he was doing,” said Assistant District Attorney Matthew Torbenson.

Although the defense argued that while Schroeder may be a “bad man,” that does not prove he killed and abused his daughter.

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“‘He had to do it’ is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. ‘It had to be him!’ This is not proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” defense attorney Charles Glynn said.

Schroeder never took the stand in his own defense, saying that decision was influenced by the unresolved charges in Waukesha.

Neither lawyers nor the family spoke to FOX6 News after the verdict was announced. But prosecutors expect several people to give victim impact statements at Schroeder’s sentencing hearing, scheduled for Nov. 25.

Schroeder trial: October 23, 2024

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