VIERA, FLORIDA - A Brevard Circuit Court judge shook her head Monday as she sentenced convicted killer Samantha Schmidt to life in prison for the 2004 robbery and dragging death of an Indialantic woman.
"This is a tragedy of a life ended, and a tragedy of a future ended," Judge Meryl Allawas said before handing down the mandatory life prison term for first-degree felony murder and a concurrent 15-year sentence for robbery in connection with the April 30, 2004, death of Linda Geiger.
Schmidt, 23, is not eligible for parole.
"There are no winners or losers," the judge said. "There's just tragedy."
A jury convicted Schmidt in June for what prosecutors said was one in a string of robberies in 2004 carried out by the West Melbourne resident and her boyfriend Brandon Bennett during a drug binge.
Prosecutors said Geiger, 56, was killed after she chased Bennett, who snatched Geiger's purse from her shopping cart outside a Melbourne Wal-Mart and jumped into a pickup driven by Schmidt. Geiger grabbed hold of the vehicle's passenger side door and was run over and dragged 60 feet, authorities said.
Bennett, 24, was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the incident. Schmidt rejected a similar deal that could have set her free before age 50, prosecutors said.
On Monday, Schmidt, clutching a tissue, apologized to the Geiger family.
"Every day for over three years, I wished to myself that I could give her back to you," Schmidt said through tears. "If I'd only known she was there, I would have helped her."
Schmidt also lambasted Bennett for his role in the incident.
"I'm no longer the lost child who sat in that truck and obeyed the orders of a drugged-out, abusive man," she said.
Schmidt's address to the court went against the advice of her attorney, Dan Ciener. A motion for a new trial is pending with the 5th District Court of Appeal.
During the trial, Ciener denied that Schmidt planned the theft with Bennett, and said Schmidt was not aware Geiger was hanging onto the vehicle when she followed Bennett's order to speed out of the store lot.
Before the sentencing, Schmidt's parents also offered the Geigers their condolences. The couple told the court of a "friendly, courteous" Schmidt who was an accomplished equestrian, but whose life changed "dramatically" when she met Bennett.
Schmidt's mother, Constance Schmidt, blasted the media for its portrayal of her daughter as a "monster" and said Schmidt "was a victim, too."
Prosecutors can charge first-degree felony murder when a death results from the commission of another felony, even if the death is unintentional, assistant state attorney Susan Stewart said. The state declined to pursue the death penalty.
During her victim impact statement, Geiger's daughter, Heather Geiger, said her mother had taught her to take responsibility for poor choices -- something she believes Schmidt has not done. She asked that Schmidt receive the harshest sentence allowable.
Schmidt still faces separate charges for allegedly forging checks stolen during other robberies in the days before Geiger's death.
"This is a tragedy of a life ended, and a tragedy of a future ended," Judge Meryl Allawas said before handing down the mandatory life prison term for first-degree felony murder and a concurrent 15-year sentence for robbery in connection with the April 30, 2004, death of Linda Geiger.
Schmidt, 23, is not eligible for parole.
"There are no winners or losers," the judge said. "There's just tragedy."
A jury convicted Schmidt in June for what prosecutors said was one in a string of robberies in 2004 carried out by the West Melbourne resident and her boyfriend Brandon Bennett during a drug binge.
Prosecutors said Geiger, 56, was killed after she chased Bennett, who snatched Geiger's purse from her shopping cart outside a Melbourne Wal-Mart and jumped into a pickup driven by Schmidt. Geiger grabbed hold of the vehicle's passenger side door and was run over and dragged 60 feet, authorities said.
Bennett, 24, was sentenced to 25 years in prison last year after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for his role in the incident. Schmidt rejected a similar deal that could have set her free before age 50, prosecutors said.
On Monday, Schmidt, clutching a tissue, apologized to the Geiger family.
"Every day for over three years, I wished to myself that I could give her back to you," Schmidt said through tears. "If I'd only known she was there, I would have helped her."
Schmidt also lambasted Bennett for his role in the incident.
"I'm no longer the lost child who sat in that truck and obeyed the orders of a drugged-out, abusive man," she said.
Schmidt's address to the court went against the advice of her attorney, Dan Ciener. A motion for a new trial is pending with the 5th District Court of Appeal.
During the trial, Ciener denied that Schmidt planned the theft with Bennett, and said Schmidt was not aware Geiger was hanging onto the vehicle when she followed Bennett's order to speed out of the store lot.
Before the sentencing, Schmidt's parents also offered the Geigers their condolences. The couple told the court of a "friendly, courteous" Schmidt who was an accomplished equestrian, but whose life changed "dramatically" when she met Bennett.
Schmidt's mother, Constance Schmidt, blasted the media for its portrayal of her daughter as a "monster" and said Schmidt "was a victim, too."
Prosecutors can charge first-degree felony murder when a death results from the commission of another felony, even if the death is unintentional, assistant state attorney Susan Stewart said. The state declined to pursue the death penalty.
During her victim impact statement, Geiger's daughter, Heather Geiger, said her mother had taught her to take responsibility for poor choices -- something she believes Schmidt has not done. She asked that Schmidt receive the harshest sentence allowable.
Schmidt still faces separate charges for allegedly forging checks stolen during other robberies in the days before Geiger's death.
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50 comments:
I am appalled and saddened that the U.S
Court system can't do better than that. I
Believe in rehabilitation not mindless retribution
Samantha is a human being you would not
Keep an animal locked up for life can't we rise above
Our enemies and show compassion in this case?
Seems like she should have received a sentence no more severe than what her accomplice got. Of course this depends on assuming as facts that:
Her accomplice was a drugged out abusive man; and,
She wa unaware the victim was being dragged.
Life without parole is not the punishment when someone is (1) forced to commit the crime and
(2) did not intend any harm to the victim.
After meeting Samantha, I can tell you that she is a beautiful woman inside and out. There is no way she meant to hurt anyone. She deserves to have her life back!!
Its a tough situation, if someone would harm or kill my loved one i would expect nothing but the harshest punishment.... But i know samantha she wouldnt or is not capable of killing someone.. She has made some wrong choices in her life, drugs is one of them,shes sick and needed help unfortuntly she didnt recieve the help she needed on time...Its a sad story it really is. Beautiul, Smart girl locked up
a good reminder to let go money,property during a robbery
don't do the crime if you can't do the time...she got what she deserves
i DID TIME WITH SAMANTHA AND READ HER CASE SHE IS A GOOD GIRL AND DESERVES TO BE FREE. sHE WAS CONTROLLED BY A MONSTER OF A BOYFRIEND.
She is manipulative woman, using people inside and outside the prison. Writes people for money, with promises of "when she gets out". Uses other inmates and even the guards for what she wants. She trades her body for favors and canteen products, and is quick to laugh about the situation when no one related to her case is around to make herself feel tough. Do not be fooled by these women in prison, they are a WORLD of different when its just them and the staff. You would be ashamed of MOST of your mothers/daughters/family if you could see them every day. I doubt the state of florida corrections department would be over 90 million dollars in the whole if all these people were really victims of "abusive drugged out" counterparts. There is nothing in the case about toxicology or psychology being a factor. Wake up people. Sometimes people just do really bad shit for no reason and surprise us all.
I would like to know more about what the person above is referring to. I love Samantha and do not see this kind of person at all. I sure hope your wrong about her!!!! Do you know her??
I knew samantha for many years before this incident occured and she is not the girl the media makes her out to be. I also know the idiot that she was manipulated by and who kept pushing the drugs at her constantly .If you ask me he should have recieved the sentence she got and he r the sentence he got. I THINK THEN JUSTICE WOULD HAVE BEEN SERVED.
No one is talking here about the victim. "Lindy" was a friend of mine for years. She was kind, funny, loved to sing karaoke..had a beautiful granddaughter who she adored and a daughter she loved
She was a sister, a mother a grandmother and friend to many. She was wearing a wrist splint that got caught as she was at her car, when bag was snatched. They New she was there..she was yanked right out of her sandles when that girl grappled her purse. Broad daylight!! She is lucky she is allowed to live..my friend was not.
I have personally had the opportunity of meeting sam and she is a beautiful person. She does many things in Lowell, where she is currently incarcerated, such as bible studies, and leads a fitness group for other women there. She deserves a second chance. We all make mistakes, we just dont all get caught. i love you sam! Hang in there
Sam is one of the few people I can say truly deserves a second chance. Love this girl dearly.
She is using you. You are a fool.
I to was incarcerated with Sam in the county jail and yes she used a lot of people. Staff and inmates. I also seen where she again followed the wrong people to fit in. Yes I do believe in 2nd chances. I seen a lost little girl that didn't know how to lead but to follow. It seemed as though she had no confidence in herself. I sometimes wonder how her home life was and why she felt as though she did things to fit in. She was a beautiful girl but had low self esteem.
Sammy was a beautiful person. I knew her personally through out my childhood. She taught me and my sisters how to ride and horse and gave us lessons in her spare time. We looked up to her! We always wanted to be "just like Sammy"! She was a talented, young and great, caring person. I remember when she met Bennett and the hardships she was facing being involved in a BAD relationship. I feel so sad for the family who has lost a loved one. But I know Sammy and she could not have purposly have done this or been aware under any circumstances. She made a mistake and I know there should be consequences but life in prison is harsh I believe. We love you Sammy and remember all the amazing memories and all that you have taught us as such young girls.
I can't believe people still read and comment on this article. Schmidt was offered the same plea deal as Bennett she did not to take it! That is on her. I feel she fully deserves the sentence she got. I lost my mother 15 days after my 29th birthday, my daughter lost her only grandmother 24 days after her 8th birthday. Now every April when it should be a happy time of birthdays I am sad and still remember EVERYTHING about that day. Let's not forget the life sentence that Samantha Schmidt gave to myself and my daughters! All the times I've had or my daughter has great things happen and she is not there to share in the moment.
All these years later, i do still read these comments...for a variety of reasons. I knew the offenders, both. I wish i knew Linda though. She sounds like a wonderful lady, and an example of what a TRUE victim looks like....
If Sam wanted less time, then she should have taken the deal offered. That is the problem with not taking responsibility for our actions... i think she really believed she would be able to get away from the horror of her choices merely because she didnt INTEND for it to end in Lindas death. THAT is the true challenge of growing up-realizing that no matter the intent, our spur-of-the-moment decisions sometimes have permanent consequences.
just in her choosing to fight this case, you can see the immature magical thinking.
Irregardless of Brandon and his "abusive" ways, we are to be held accountable for our decisions in life. No matter what our intent may be. Quite frankly, if she was a victim of some madman, then i am glad she is locked up, where no other madman can make her hurt me next. If it was her own free will, than again she is where she belongs before she hurts me next "without meaning to"... THATS the problem with not taking reaponsibility for your decisions and intent- if you didnt mean to and it turned so bad, why wont it happen again (since it is out of your control that it happened, THEN IT CAN HAPPEN AGAIN)...
either way, Linda is gone, but at least someone else can be safer
I made some bad choices following behind an abusive man the age of 18. A promising career following in the footsteps of all my family members into the military until I met this man. With poor choices I committed crimes that sent me to prison. And I don't think I would have ever rose out of the depression in the dark places I was in if it wasn't for meeting Samantha Schmidt. Even in prison the light that shines from this young lady it's phenomenal. She has a beauty within for helping people and being the most selfless person I've ever met in my life. The changes she made and had me face is the reason that after all of the trials and struggles I went through has made me so accomplished even after leaving prison. My confidence and self esteem comes from meeting the Lord and I met him through Samantha Schmidt.
You must have been somebody who had it really rough in prison. Maybe you weren't even locked up so you don't know what it's like or how it feels. Or maybe you were somebody who hated Samantha because she had no enemies and people who know her case feel that her sentence was unfair and they stand behind her and send her money and put money into a charity to help her with legal fees. You were probably just somebody who stood on the outside and seen a beautiful girl who didn't let a sentence in prison Steel her hope and joy or robbed her of her kindness or love toward people. You must have been somebody who envied her because you're miserable inside and it shows ugliness on the outside. I had a lot of officers who looked out for me and helped me and they're my friends now on Facebook. Officers are humans too and when they see somebody that is genuinely a good person they will step out and help and be a friend... I'm sorry nobody sees that in you
Everyone in life has made a mistake. We all have made a decision that led to consequences we did not ever think could happen to us period situations that play themselves out in the worst way possible that we never believed could happen to others or ourselves. Samantha Schmidt was on drugs and after binging a few days was passed out in the driver's seat of that truck when her boyfriend went inside that store with money in his pocket and came out without even planning grabbed that poor woman's purse and from that decision the situation and consequences was a life... A beautiful life... Lost. I met Samantha Schmidt and what she instilled in me from the many years of knowing her... Definitely have to say she saved my life. Her actions everyday toward people are so genuine that I believe deep down inside the pain from taking a life runs over into selflessly blessing people and building their confidence. Sometimes we go into a relationship thinking that is going to be this wonderful thing and we fall in love with it... But after the abuse starts and we never walk away because we still have this hope that if we do better for today for them our love is enough to change them it will turn into what we always imagined with this person we love. In the Heartbreak we start to believe we can't do any better and then we start to think this is what we deserve and you can't leave. The Younger You Are for some reason the easier it is for this to sink deep down. Samantha Schmidt was still a kid. She made a decision to stay but she didn't realize that those consequences of staying would hurt anybody else. She was just in love and settled for it hurting herself. What happened to her victim Samantha lives with everyday. Her remorse does not come from hoping that the right person we'll see it and feel it and change her sentence. She hurts deep inside for a life that was taken because of a decision that she made. Yes she was offered the same deal as her co-defendant but she was passed out in that truck when he jumped in and woke her up screaming at her to hurry up and drive. If she would have known I believe In My Heart she would not have done that but she had no idea what he did. I love Samantha Schmidt for all the encouragement and the love that she showed me through praise dancing exercising and taking the time out to talk to me when she sent me down. I watch that woman help people that nobody else would even talk to because they didn't have anything to give. And I believe in my heart if Samantha could literally give her life for that woman she would because she knows that I think you deserve to live that day and the decisions in place that Samantha was in at that time in her life she didn't deserve life. She knows who she is now and I believe that God intended for her to be put away for a while separated from an abusive relationship to find out who she is and that was never going to happen on the road that she was on. I believe that Samantha has served a lot of time and God has used that time to build a woman that should be out in society giving back what he built inside of her.
Wow, not even sure what brought me here tonight, but here I am. Reading all of these 'wonderful things' about a woman (she was not a little girl) who KILLED another woman. Period. Fortunately for me, I do not know either of the offenders. I never got to meet Linda either, but I'm certain she was an amazing woman. I'm certain because I know her daughter and granddaughters. They would not be the wonderful people they are if it weren't for Linda, I'm sure. But while you all are going on about how great Schmidt is, do you even think for a second about the REAL victims? About how they can see your comments? About how none of you are thinking of THEIR life sentences? My friend lost her mom. Not in the way many of us have or will lose ours after years and years and time to prepare. No. She got a phone call one day and life changed forever. Not because of something she did. Not because of something her mom did. But because of the actions of two complete strangers who took something that didn't belong to them and then took a life too. I sincerely hope that they both have to think about what they did every day for the rest of their lives. I hope it haunts them. Jail isn't enough when you take a life.
You apparently don't know Sam..
She prostituted herself with strange black men for crack...
She can't be rehabilitated..
Because once you go black you don't go back. But, sure you can show her all the compassion you want if you want to. No One Is Stopping You
She prostituted herself with black men.. she enjoyed it ..she was the one abusive to Brandon... she's right where she belongs.
Amen... blow a black for crack and enjoy it at the same time?. Yeah she's where she belongs
Her boyfriend wasnt a monster, the only monster she was around was that monster black penis that she happily received for those tiny nickel rocks.. she's right where she belongs.. I also heard she's got a nice butch lover in prison which will make her time nice and easy...
any woman that will take it in the ass by strange black men for a lousy nickel Rock should be in prison even without the murder conviction!
She took it in the booty by strange black men for lousy nickle rocks and she enjoyed it... she should be in prison for that alone
Lordy lordy another white girl taking it up the ass by a group of black guys to take one hit of crack and loving every minute of it... sometimes she would do it even without the crack.. she probably won't have to do too long in prison because she will probably die of AIDS
I went to school with Samantha and back then we all admired her for her beauty and her brains. She had a lot going for her before she started doing drugs, let her story be a cautionary tale. Deep down is a sweet girl that those who really knew her will always remember and love. Her life goes on and hopefully she can find happiness and fulfillment as well as inner peace. I love you Sam
She is a calculating, disturbed individual. I caught her and Brandon in the act of stealing my purse from my car. She used my ID to write bad checks from others in my name. A week later they killed your mom. I am glad I could help to convict her. She is exactly where she belongs.
She did have beauty and brains. She lived a privileged life and CHOOSE her own path. Having a sheriff for a father she was taught right from wrong. She was not a child when she commited her crimes. I busted her and Brandon stealing from me. She was no victim. She was a willing participant in recklessly breaking the law. I attempted to follow them but lost them on Palm Bay road. A week later they killed Linda. I'm glad I could help to convict her. I was a single mom of 3 daughters and it took me years to clean my credit up after she used my ID to commit other crimes. I had to threaten Wal-Mart's home office in Arkansas to clear my checks or I would go to the media. She's a murderer, plain and simple. She's no victim. How about inner peace for Linda's family? I'm over society labeling perpetrators of crimes as victims. She KILLED a woman and laughed while she did it. SHE was driving. SHE was in full control of her body. Because you knew her when... SMH
sammy is my very best friend and the most genuine soul I know. Sa
Knew her, saw what drugs can do to someone who has everything, sad situation, think punishment especially harsh compared to others. Kid in Jax killed his grandmother, buried her in back yard, stole car and headed for Canada, only got 15 years
She should have accepted the plea offer. She gambled and lost. Her attorney was either inexperienced or used poor judgment (or both). She was driving and killed a person, after being involved in burglaries. No doubt she and her co-defendant had performed the same sudden snatch and getaway theft before, so it's not like she didn't know a crime was in progress. She has a chance to make her case later for clemency absent a successful appeal.
You are an asshole
I think of her often. Breaks my heart for all involved.
Your a racist pig obviously obsessed with Sam's pussy and big Cock , grow up and get a life . And some cock . A BIG BLSCK ONE , sounds like it's all u think of ,
Why do u care what anyone does with their sex life , you feel that's enough to put someone away for?? This what's wrong with a jury trial folks , people like this cocktail obsessed moron
Thank you anonymous, I've never met you and I don't remember your name. But thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping convict Brandon and Samantha. I'm sorry for everything you had to endured after your ID and checks were stolen. Your girls are lucky to have a strong woman like you as their mother.
I want to start by saying my deepest condolences goes to the family of Linda and her death should not or has not been forgotten or down played I’ve known Sam for 15yrs I met her in the county jail and at first I didn’t care for her much she would spend her days running the tier and didn’t talk much but one day it was like we all clicked I was distraught bc I was being held until INS came and verified my identity bc someone in the government put my birthdate before my mother was even born and I had to leave my infant son I couldn’t stop crying she stopped and didn’t ask me what was wrong or if I wanted to talk she asked me f I wanted to walk the tier with her in that moment that’s what I needed to take my mind off a situation I had no control in if you saw one of us you would see one of the 10 of us I learnt Sam was quite bc she was stuck up and cold but bc every day she would wake up thinking of Ms Linda she spent her days regretting her actions and nights praying not for herself but for Ms Linda and her family Sam me and our close 8 friends started a prayer circle I grew up in church but hadn’t gone in long time but Sam was so comforting our prayer groups uplifted everyone in Delta she encouraged me to write and we would just all sit and talk something people forget is anyone of us could of been Sam, I know a lot of girls that were Sam being in an abuse relationship strips you of everything you are and are trying to be one mistake can change the life of so many and mostly not for the good but Sam try’s to make a difference no matter what where ever she can she is an amazing woman that I have watched grow from 19yrs old to now seeing the growth and strength in her I know a lot of people some good some bad but what I do know is Sam became an addict which makes people do things that they normally wouldn’t do no body mentions how her parents petitioned the court to have her marchman acted fearing that something bad would happen and the judge didn’t think she needed to be sent away and get treatment it left her parents hands tied just think if the judge listened to her family and sent her in for treatment this incident may never have happened since the court hearing was a matter of days before the incident if you watch her interrogation tape when she found out that Ms Linda
Part 2 of my previous post
I want to start by saying my deepest condolences goes to the family of Linda and her death should not or has not been forgotten or down played I’ve known Sam for 15yrs I met her in the county jail and at first I didn’t care for her much she would spend her days running the tier and didn’t talk much but one day it was like we all clicked I was distraught bc I was being held until INS came and verified my identity bc someone in the government put my birthdate before my mother was even born and I had to leave my infant son I couldn’t stop crying she stopped and didn’t ask me what was wrong or if I wanted to talk she asked me f I wanted to walk the tier with her in that moment that’s what I needed to take my mind off a situation I had no control in if you saw one of us you would see one of the 10 of us I learnt Sam was quite bc she was stuck up and cold but bc every day she would wake up thinking of Ms Linda she spent her days regretting her actions and nights praying not for herself but for Ms Linda and her family Sam me and our close 8 friends started a prayer circle I grew up in church but hadn’t gone in long time but Sam was so comforting our prayer groups uplifted everyone in Delta she encouraged me to write and we would just all sit and talk something people forget is anyone of us could of been Sam, I know a lot of girls that were Sam being in an abuse relationship strips you of everything you are and are trying to be one mistake can change the life of so many and mostly not for the good but Sam try’s to make a difference no matter what where ever she can she is an amazing woman that I have watched grow from 19yrs old to now seeing the growth and strength in her I know a lot of people some good some bad but what I do know is Sam became an addict which makes people do things that they normally wouldn’t do no body mentions how her parents petitioned the court to have her marchman acted fearing that something bad would happen and the judge didn’t think she needed to be sent away and get treatment it left her parents hands tied just think if the judge listened to her family and sent her in for treatment this incident may never have happened since the court hearing was a matter of days before the incident if you watch her interrogation tape when she found out that Ms Linda
To the anonymous racist that keep making racist comments ... You your IP address can connect any to where you are! Stfu before I send your comments to your job and expose your address
Judge not
My ❤ goes out to the victims..I know what it's like to have that empty void of a missing family member I am the last alive out of mother,father,sister,my fiance..to steal a woman's purse and drag her whether or not they knew she was there..and to hear people say Sam was manipulated TAKE RESPONSIBILITY u still had that choice to stay
I love you Samantha Schmidt you do not deserve life in prison you are a wonderful person and anyone who knows you knows that . And knows you only like white dick lol
Anonymous, you really have a thing for black dick. Lotta Freudian slips you are putting out. Although I believe she deserves her punishment I also believe that you are are a bug black dick lover
Sounds like you more mad that she was with black men than anything. Get it together.
I went to elementary school and junior high with her and lived in the same area I remember hearing about this case after we all giraduatd such a sad story.
That was just racist, that because someone slept with a black person their bad. From what I can see there is bad and ignorant in every color. No race is better than the next. Anyone can be rehabilitated if they truly want it. Sam is a good person that made a mistake. I know Sam and she is not who she use to be.
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