Anna Schroeder, 15, allegedly shot and killer her mother, Peggy Schroeder, and then recruited her friend Rachel Helm, also 15, to help burn down the home to try and cover up the crime.
What Happened?
Anna armed herself with a .38 revolver and waited for her 53-year-old mother to return home in Morrison, Illinois, from work last Thursday. When she got home, Anna reportedly told her to put a towel over her face before shooting her in the head in the living room, according to a police officer’s testimony.
Prior to being officially charged with the murder, Anna wrote a Facebook post expressing love for her mother and asking for forgiveness for “not always being the best daughter.”
Since then, she has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, concealment of homicidal death and arson. Her friend Rachel has not been formally charged.
Because she is a minor, state law dictates that she will appear in juvenile court despite the severity of the charge. If convicted, she could be jailed until she is 21. As of now, the motive behind the alleged murder remains unclear.
The Sauk Valley News reports that Anna texted Rachel to confess to her mother’s killing on Thursday.
Police said Anna also texted Rachel a photo of her mother’s body when she refused to believe she had shot her.
Rachel’s mother reportedly drove her over to Anna’s house where the two tried to clean the blood out of the carpet. The next day, they are said to have moved Peggy’s body from the living room to the bedroom and covered her with a sheet before going out to buy more cleaning supplies. Ultimately, however, they decided to burn down the house in an attempt to destroy the evidence.
Firefighters found Peggy’s body inside the charred remains of the house after putting out the flames, according to KWQC.
Rachel then confessed everything to her mother, who took her to the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Department for questioning.
Anna then posted a disturbing Facebook message on her deceased mother’s Facebook page. She said in the post: “I don’t even know if you can see me right now but if you can I just want you to know you were my best friend. I wasn’t always the best daughter and I’m so sorry. I love you so much mom I just want you to know and I’ll never forget you.”
Anna was brought to Bureau County Sheriff’s Department after Rachel’s confession where she admitted to the killing, police said.
Anna Schroeder
Anna Schroeder is a 15-year-old from Morrison, Illinois. She is accused of fatally shooting her mother in the head and burning down their house with a friend to cover up the crime. She is due to appear in court on August 8.
