Man who stored dead mom in freezer sentenced to seven years

South Florida.com ^ | 11-21-05

[Cagey]

LA CROSSE, Wis. -- The recluse who kept his dead mother in his freezer and shot at his neighbors when they came to his door was sentenced to seven years in prison Monday.

Philip Schuth, 53, was sentenced for attempted homicide, reckless endangerment and concealment of a corpse.

Schuth told investigators that his mother died of natural causes in 2000, and an autopsy confirmed that. Schuth, who never had held a real job, said he hid her death because he was afraid authorities would blame him and because he wanted to keep collecting her Social Security checks.

He was arrested in April after an all-night standoff with police at his house on French Island, which lies in the Mississippi River just outside La Crosse. The standoff began when Schuth shot at a couple and their 10-year-old son after they confronted him over whether he had hit the boy.

During negotiations with police, Schuth said he had his dead mother in a freezer in the basement. Officers found her encased in a block of ice.

"Obviously it's a very serious crime. On the other hand, he had some unique issues in his upbringing that contributed to it which are probably treatable," District Attorney Scott Horne said, referring to Schuth's isolated childhood and hermit-like existence as an adult. "We all learned how to deal with minor conflicts because we're taught and brought up to do that. He wasn't."

Schuth has said he fantasized about being married to "Alias" star Jennifer Garner. At his sentencing, he said: "I apologize to Jennifer Garner and her pool boy Ben Affleck for involving them in my fantasies."

[pageonetoo]

The poor guy has already served a stint in hell. It must be a constant on his mind... seven years for this. Two years for murder.

[A knight without armor]

"...Schuth said he had his dead mother in a freezer in the basement. Officers found her encased in a block of ice."

Evidently is was not a frost-free. What a Luddite.

[razorgirl]

Schuth has said he fantasized about being married to "Alias" star Jennifer Garner. At his sentencing, he said: "I apologize to Jennifer Garner and her pool boy Ben Affleck for involving them in my fantasies."

Keep that guy locked up for life...

[dhs12345]

Probably right next to the Thanksgiving Turkey, I bet.

[coloradan]

This guy must have been trying to compete in the "cool mom" contest.

[martin_fierro]

Officers found her encased in a block of ice.

Fin de sicle.

[martin_fierro]

Obviously it's a very serious crime.

Relative-ly.

[COUNTrecount]

Fin de sicle

LOL. Mom-sicle.

[garyhope]

"Fin de sicle."

Verrry good.

Did he live anywhere near Bates Motel?

[mikrofon]

Mom in ice for 5 years ==> Son on ice for 7

[Welsh Rabbit]

He sounds like he should be in an insane asylum instead of prison. Maybe forever.

[FDNYRHEROES]

Man who stored dead mom in freezer sentenced to seven years

OK, so where should he have stored her?

[WasDougsLamb]

he wanted to keep collecting her Social Security checks.

----Her checks?

On the other hand, he had some unique issues in his upbringing that contributed to it which are probably treatable," District Attorney Scott Horne said, referring to Schuth's isolated childhood and hermit-like existence as an adult. "We all learned how to deal with minor conflicts because we're taught and brought up to do that. He wasn't."


----but he was smart enough to know to keep her death quiet and cash her checks? Sounds to me like he knew exactly what he was doing. Upbringing being what it was or not. At the very least, fraudulent government check cashing should be one of his charges.