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Local News

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Putnam judge opposes parole for killer
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

OTTAWA -- A former Lima man, serving time for fatally stabbing a Putnam County man in 1989, "poses a significant danger to society" if paroled from prison after 20 years, according to a Putnam County judge.

In a letter to the Adult Parole Authority, Common Pleas Judge Randall Basinger opposed the release of Mark A. Gildemeister, 41, who murdered Jeffrey Schumacher on Sept. 7, 1989 at Schumacher's home just outside of Vaughnsville.

Gildemeister was scheduled for a parole hearing this week, but it was rescheduled to March, according to an Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections spokeswoman.

Judge Basinger sentenced Gildemeister to 30 years to life in prison after he pleaded guilty to aggravated murder and aggravated burglary. He is eligible for parole after 20 years.

The judge wrote that Gildemeister should be locked up for at least 30 years. This opinion is consistent with his original recommendation to the parole board in 1990:

"The defendant was the principal offender in a senseless and brutal aggravated murder which took place during the commission of an aggravated burglary," Basinger wrote. He also said Gildemeister demonstrated an ongoing history of drug abuse and criminal activity.

Schumacher, 34, was stabbed when he came home and found Gildemeister and another man, Jack T. Quinn, burglarizing his house on Sept. 7, 1989, according to authorities.

Schumacher chased after the burglars a short distance. He then ran from his home to his parents' house about a half-mile away on Ohio 12, authorities said, and later died at St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima.

Quinn, 42, formerly of Beaverdam, was sentenced to 15 to 50 years in prison on charges of complicity to involuntary manslaughter and complicity to aggravated burglary, both first-degree felonies.

He was denied parole last February and his next hearing will be in 2013, the spokeswoman said.

Both men are at the Allen County Correctional Facility, according to the Ohio prison Web site.

Leading up to Gildemeister's parole hearing, Schumacher's family has been circulating a petition to keep the killer behind bars.

Mike Campbell, Schumacher's brother-in-law, who lives in Ottawa, said he hopes Gildemeister stays in prison for life.

"The thing about these crimes, there is never any closure for the family," Campbell said.

Attending parole hearings and leading petition drives to keep killers in prison takes its toll on the family, he said.

"It's like reliving the trial all over again," he said.

Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

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The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

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Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

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Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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