Bio

Joel Richard Schmeiderer was born on October 29, 1979. He grew up in Tennessee. His early life was troubled. His mother never married Joel's father. She reported that Joel's father did not show him any affection. As a child, Joel struggled to fit in and often found himself in trouble.

During his teenage years, Joel's behavior worsened. He began to commit small crimes, such as stealing drugs and money. He had difficulty in school and was eventually sent to an alternative school. At just fifteen years old, he entered a juvenile facility. He stayed there until he turned eighteen.

After leaving the juvenile facility, Joel's life did not improve. He continued to get into trouble. He became involved in more serious crimes. By the time he was eighteen, he was facing serious charges, including murder and attempted murder.

Murder Story

On October 9, 1998, Joel Richard Schmeiderer was involved in a violent incident in Belfast, Tennessee. He and his companions argued with two men at a gas station. After the argument, Schmeiderer and his group chased the men in a car. During the chase, Schmeiderer shot at the men’s truck multiple times. The chase ended when Schmeiderer rammed the truck with his car. When the men jumped out and ran for help, Schmeiderer shot at them again. One of the men, James Helmet, was fatally shot during this incident.

Schmeiderer was later convicted of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. He received multiple sentences for these crimes and was sent to prison.

While in prison, Schmeiderer committed a second murder. On July 11, 2001, Tom Harris, another inmate at the South Central Correctional Center in Clifton, Tennessee, was found strangled in his cell. Schmeiderer, along with another inmate named Charles Sanderson, was implicated in the crime. Witnesses stated they saw Schmeiderer and Sanderson quickly leaving Harris’s cell around the time of the murder.

A correctional officer found Harris dead with a sock around his neck. The cell showed signs of a struggle, with blood found on various items. Schmeiderer’s blood was also present, indicating he had been involved in the fight. He discussed the murder with his cellmate afterward, indicating that he believed committing the crime would give him an opportunity to escape.

The investigation confirmed that Schmeiderer had strangled Harris. He later admitted to the act during questioning, showing little remorse. The jury convicted Schmeiderer of first-degree premeditated murder. He was sentenced to death for Harris’s murder, alongside his existing life sentence. The Tennessee Supreme Court upheld this sentence, leading to the setting of an execution date.