Bio

Charles Howard Schmid Jr. was born on July 8, 1942, to an unwed mother. He was adopted by Charles and Katharine Schmid, who owned Hillcrest Nursing Home in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up, he had a difficult relationship with his adoptive father. His mother later divorced him. When Charles tried to meet his birth mother, she told him never to come back.

In school, Schmid struggled academically but was often described as good-looking and intelligent. He was a talented athlete and excelled in gymnastics, leading his high school team to a State Championship. However, he quit gymnastics during his senior year. Just before graduating, he stole tools from a machine shop and was suspended. After that, he never returned to school.

Following his suspension, Schmid began living in his own quarters on his parents' property. He received a monthly allowance of $300. His parents provided him with a new car and a motorcycle, allowing him to have some independence. Schmid spent much of his time on Speedway, where he often picked up girls and drank with friends, although he was more of a loner.

Schmid was known for trying to appear taller. He wore cowboy boots stuffed with newspapers and flattened cans. He also used makeup and created an artificial mole on his cheek to change his appearance. He was called the "Pied Piper" because of his charm and the way he captivated the teenage community in Tucson. Despite his popularity, he had a small circle of friends, including Paul Graff, John Saunders, and Richie Bruns.

Murder Story

Charles Howard Schmid Jr., often referred to as "The Pied Piper of Tucson," committed his first murder on May 31, 1964. He targeted a 15-year-old girl named Alleen Rowe. Schmid lured her into the desert, where he assaulted and ultimately killed her. He and two friends buried her body in a shallow grave. After she went missing, her family suspected foul play. However, police were unable to conduct a search without more evidence.

In the summer of 1965, Schmid began dating Gretchen Fritz, a 17-year-old girl. He confided in her about his earlier crime, telling her he had killed Alleen. When Schmid decided to end the relationship, Gretchen threatened to expose him. On August 16, 1965, he killed both Gretchen and her 13-year-old sister, Wendy, by strangulation. He then showed their bodies to his friend Richard Bruns and enlisted his help to bury the sisters' remains in the desert.

The murders remained a secret in their social circle until Bruns became concerned for his own girlfriend's safety. Afraid that Schmid might target her next, he reported the murders to the police on November 11, 1965. Schmid was arrested shortly after. His trial gained significant media attention, including coverage from publications like Life and Playboy and aimed at the shocking nature of the crimes.

In 1966, Charles Schmid was convicted for the murders and sentenced to death for killing the Fritz sisters. He was given a 50-year-to-life sentence for the murder of Alleen Rowe. In 1971, the Arizona Supreme Court temporarily ended the death penalty, leading to a reduction of his sentence to 50 years in prison.

While imprisoned, Schmid attempted to escape several times. On November 11, 1972, he managed to break out alongside another inmate. They took four hostages but were recaptured within days.

On March 10, 1975, Schmid was assaulted by other inmates, resulting in him being stabbed 47 times. He lost an eye and a kidney from the injuries and succumbed to his wounds 20 days later. Following his death, his mother chose to have him buried in a prison cemetery to avoid any vandalism of his grave.