Army officer's wife killed teen children because they were 'mouthy,' Tampa authorities say

Orlando Sentinel ^ | 11:47 a.m. EST, January 29, 2011

[Red Steel]

The woman who authorities say killed her teenage daughter and son because she was fed up with them talking back and being mouthy will not appear in court Saturday because she's being treated at a hospital for an unknown condition.

Authorities say Julie Powers Schenecker was taken to Tampa General Hospital shortly after midnight Saturday to be treated for a medical condition that existed before she was taken to jail. Hillsborough Sheriff's deputies — who oversee jail inmates — said they could not reveal Schenecker's medical condition, citing health care privacy laws.

An arrest affidavit said Schenecker shot her son twice in the head in the family car "for talking back" as she drove him to soccer practice. The report said Schenecker then drove to their upscale home and shot her daughter in the face inside the home.

Schenecker's mother called police Friday morning and told them she was concerned after her daughter had sent an e-mail saying she was depressed. Officers found Schenecker drenched in blood on her back porch — and after they saw the teens, the scene was so troubling that a stress team was called to counsel the responding officers, a police spokeswoman said.

Calyx, the girl, was 16 and a cross-country running star at her high school. The 13-year-old son, Beau, was in eighth grade.

-snip-

Schenecker's husband, Parker Schenecker, is a career Army officer attached to U.S. Central Command in Tampa. He was working in the Middle East when the shootings happened.

[4Runner]

Calyx (botany), the sepals of a flower; Calyx (fictional moon)

There are pics of the children at the news source. The girl was beautiful. The boy was handsome. Brings tears to the eyes. Demolishing two wonderful, innocent, newly-flowering miraculous productive and fruitful lives. There is no earthly punishment that can atone for what this evil, wicked beast of a woman has done.

http://www2.tbo.com/exposure/ar/0/339/2011/01 /28/94845_calyx_schenecker.jpg

[4Runner]

They better make sure that father and husband never gets anywhere near that wife and mother ever again. He’s liable to off her, then himself.

[Let's Roll]

“I can’t imagine any drug that can dull the line between right and wrong.

Only a person with no soul can do what she did.”

I’ve thought for a long time, that using certain kinds of drugs literally steals or releases, if you will, the soul.

[beaversmom]

Here's her Facebook page and some of the things she was interested in on FB:

Julie Powers Schenecker

UNI Athletics, Tabasco, Prairie Dog Divers, The Cheesecake Factory, spwilson art, Project AWARE Foundation, Wyland Foundation, Bayern Munich, MyCalendar, Click "like" if you love your son!, Lowering the music when looking for a street address so i can see better, OXI CLEAN, USAG Ansbach, I can't hear you, so ill just laugh and hope it wasn't a question, Turn Facebook Pink For 1 Week For Breast Cancer Awareness, GoLikeUs, Being Conservative, Hi welcome to Hollister, Would you like a flashlight?, If you hurt my daughter I will make your death look like an accident. (:

I know this won't be popular, and I'm usually the hang 'em high type, but I feel horrible for this family (the mom included). From outward appearances it seems like they had it all--nice home, successful kids. What a mystery about what caused her to do this. Incredibly sad.

[happygrl]

It’s hard to believe that is the same woman pictured in the news story.

The references to her son and daughter in her Facebook blog are unnerving.

I feel so bad for the father of these kids, over in the Middle East, and then called aside to be given this news.

She bought the gun ahead of time just a few days ago...this was not spontaneous...she should have called for assistance from her Family Liason Officer or her mother.

Prayers for the Father especially, but all of the family who will be riddled with guilt.

[sarasmom]

Prayers sent.

I can’t even imagine the agony that poor man must be suffering right now.