“Greenfield Child Death” cold case; Ronald Schroeder was found guilty in court

MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee County jury found Ronald Schroeder guilty Wednesday morning, Oct. 23, of killing his infant daughter Catherine in 1991.

Schroeder was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter, child abuse and intentionally causing great harm.

The state and defense rested their cases Tuesday morning before making closing arguments Tuesday afternoon. Prosecutors allege Schroeder abused and killed his daughter in August 1991. The jury received the case Tuesday just after 3 p.m.

Catherine Schroeder's death was ruled a homicide due to blunt force injuries, initially cited as a result of shaken baby syndrome. Witnesses included medical experts, first responders and Schroeder's ex-boyfriends – and the state said all evidence points to Schroeder as the perpetrator and murderer of his daughter.

Schröder's defense said the state's arguments were mostly speculation. They said there was no new evidence that Schroeder killed his daughter.

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The state highlighted statements from Schroeder's ex-partners who said he abused them and other children. The defense said Schroeder may be a bad person, but that legally cannot be used as evidence that he abused and killed his 7-week-old daughter decades ago.

Schroder did not take a stand in his own defense and said the pending charges in Waukesha were a factor in that decision.

Additional protection