A man is accused of killing his older roommate, who he was supposed to be caring for, with the victim’s own rifle, according to Minnesota authorities.
A Dakota County grand jury has indicted Jacob John Audie, 36, for first-degree premeditated murder and second-degree intentional murder in the death of Michael Maurice Schille, 72, according to Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena. When Schille was discovered dead in April, he was only charged with second-degree murder at first.
On April 11, around 8:50 p.m., the South St. Paul Police Department received a call from a man reporting that he had shot his roommate in their apartment. Audie, according to the law enforcement agency, and the suspect reportedly had no problem explaining what he had done.
When police arrived at the home, they discovered Schille on a couch in his bedroom “with a gunshot wound on the left side of his face” and “a television remote in his hand,” according to a criminal complaint obtained by Law&Crime. He was declared dead by responding medics.
Officers also reported finding an AR-style rifle magazine on a nearby table, the rifle in the living room, and a single bullet on the couch. Audie later confirmed that he had taken these actions and then called 911 “and told them what he did.”
According to the South St. Paul Police Department’s news release, the suspect was apprehended in the parking lot of the apartment complex. “During the investigation, Audie informed officers that he was the victim’s caretaker and that they had been living together for the past year or two. “He claimed he shot Schille with the victim’s rifle.”
Schille’s family was shocked by his death, with one of his daughters stating that, while he had health issues and thus needed a caregiver, “there was no tension” in the days leading up to his death.
“It doesn’t make sense,” Jessica Comer told Twin Cities NBC affiliate KARE. Authorities have not revealed what they believe Audie’s motivations were.
According to Comer, her father was a veteran, and his obituary stated that he “was a master at finding the silver lining in any situation and had an utterly contagious laugh.”
“Michael lost his life at the hands of someone he trusted,” the obit said.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner’s Office conducted an autopsy and determined Schille’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the face, with homicide as the manner of death.
If convicted of the premeditated first-degree charge, Audie faces life in prison without the possibility of parole. His next court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday.
