Post by Graveyardbride on Aug 28, 2015 12:01:28 GMT -5
Arrest in 1976 Murder of Susan Schmidt
BRISTOL, Va. – An investigation into a 37-year-old cold case murder in Arizona resulted in the arrest of a Bristol man, who has lived in the area for at least 20 years. Edward Meinhold, 54, was arrested by the Bristol Virginia Police Department Friday. He was charged by the Glendale (Arizona) Police Department with first-degree murder in the death of Susan Schmidt (above). Meinhold, who remains in the Bristol Jail, was linked to the case after Glendale Police conducted additional analysis on physical evidence last year. The man lived in Arizona at the time of the murder, police said, but he’s since resided in Bristol.
On March 22, 1978, just after 8:30 p.m., Glendale authorities said they responded to a call of an injured person in a car in the roadway at 55th Avenue, just south of Northern. They found Schmidt, a 21-year-old Glendale resident, slumped in her vehicle after being shot multiple times. She was transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. During the initial probe, investigators learned that Schmidt had been seen shopping in the Valley West Mall shortly before the shooting. About 30 minutes later, a jogger found the woman in her 1976 Toyota Celica. He flagged down another vehicle, which drove to a nearby fire station and summoned help. Investigators spoke to several witnesses who said a man was seen standing at or near Schmidt’s car, where it had been found in the roadway. Detectives followed up on many leads, but all were ruled out and the case went "cold," Glendale police said.
Schmidt was described as a beautiful and well-liked girl, a graduate of Glendale High School who worked at the Glendale Youth Center tutoring young adults. She was a college student at both Glendale Community College and Arizona State University.
Since 1978, Glendale detectives and forensic investigators have continued to work the case in hopes of generating new leads, Glendale police said. The case has been featured in various news formats and several cold case detectives have put effort into solving the murder. It is the oldest homicide case in Glendale, police said. Cold cases are periodically reviewed as new information, tips or leads come to the attention of detectives.
Last April, a Glendale Police forensic technician conducted additional analysis on physical evidence collected from the crime scene, which linked detectives to Meinhold (above) in Bristol. Case Detective Roger Geisler began conducting countless interviews in Arizona and traveled to Bristol. That’s when Sgt. Steve Crawford in Bristol said Arizona police contacted him about the case. Crawford, who could only think of one other similar cold case in his career, was able to locate Meinhold. "He was very cooperative," Crawford said.
At the time of the murder, Meinhold lived in Glendale, a short distance from the crime scene. Crawford said Glendale police retested forensics evidence, which led to Meinhold. Glendale Police Sgt. David Vidaure said he could not be more specific regarding the type evidence that was re-evaluated. He mentioned that officers have been to Bristol to conduct interviews. Working with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and after appearing before an Arizona grand jury, an arrest warrant was obtained against Meinhold. Police don’t believe there was a previous connection between Schmidt and Meinhold.
In 2003, to mark the silver anniversary of their daughter’s death, her parents, Ernest and Ruth Schmidt, urged the killer to step forward. "You know who you are, and only you can finish this anguish not only for her family but for yourself," the parents said.
Meinhold, who has lived at various locations in the Bristol area, has resided on Highland Avenue for about two years. Neighbors declined to talk on the record Wednesday. Crawford said Meinhold has family in Arizona and Virginia. Meinhold, who has worked at a Bristol factory, is married and has children, the detective added. As far as a police record, Meinhold has a couple misdemeanors locally. According to court records, Meinhold has had multiple speeding tickets in Bristol and Washington County. He was also charged with two counts of passing worthless checks in 2007.
Meinhold is being held in Bristol pending an extradition hearing. He’s been charged as a fugitive from justice, Crawford said. A court hearing in Bristol is scheduled for Tuesday.
Source: Robert Sorrell, The Bristol Herald-Courier, August 26, 2015.