A 76-year-old Illinois man has been charged with fatally shooting his daughter-in-law, Christine Moyer, 45, “execution style” at a family wedding after she filed for a divorce against his son, Michael.
Roland Schmidt perpetrated the crime in the parking lot of a Marriott Hotel in the state’s northwestern suburb of Schaumburg—authorities say in the presence of family members.
Highlights
- Roland Schmidt fatally shot his daughter-in-law outside a hotel during a family wedding.
- Authorities say the act was premeditated and stemmed from divorce proceedings.
- Bystanders including an off-duty officer subdued Schmidt until police arrived.
It has been deemed that the slaying was premeditated, and Schmidt, charged accordingly, is being held without bail.
The shooting occurred at the entrance of a hotel where a wedding was being celebrated
Image credits: kat wilcox/Pexels (Not the actual photo)
A Schaumburg Police Department communique reads:
“On July 25, 2025, at 10:15 PM, the Schaumburg Police responded to a report of a shooting in the parking lot of 50 N (Martingale Road).”
“Officers located one g*nshot victim, identified as Christine Moyer, 45 years old, of Galena, Ohio, outside near the front entrance to the Hotel.”
Image credits: Schaumburg Police Department
The police report further noted that Moyer had “sustained one g*nshot wound to the head.” And even though she had received first aid and was then rushed to the local Advocate Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge, she “succumbed to her injuries.”
A bystander intervened and subdued the shooter until the police arrived
The report went on to say the bystanders had taken matters into their own hands, and by the time police had arrived on the scene, “Schmidt was being subdued on the ground by a citizen.”
Image credits: Schaumburg Police Department
One of the bystanders to help disarm the 76-year-old was an off-duty policeman, according to Chicago’s WGN9.
The Facebook notice continued: “The offender was identified as Roland Schmidt of Stillman Valley, Illinois, and was transported to the Schaumburg Police Department for investigation. "
“The firearm was also recovered from the scene and secured.”
Image credits: ABC 7 Chicago
The notice confirmed that both Moyer and Schmidt had been attending the wedding at the hotel and observed that Schmidt and Moyer were related, saying, “Moyer is the daughter-in-law of Schmidt.”
A witness saw Schmidt walking quickly to the hotel’s exit after Moyer had left the procession—a sighting that was considered unusual as he was known to use a cane.
A judge has deemed the 76-year-old a threat to the public and denied him bail
Image credits: ABC 7 Chicago
“The shooting occurred when Moyer was leaving the event, and Schmidt followed her outside. Schmidt approached Moyer and shot her in the head,” the Schaumburg Police Department wrote.
“Through the investigation, it was discovered that Schmidt was upset with Moyer over divorce paperwork that was filed against his son.”
Schmidt appeared for a detention hearing at the Rolling Meadows court house on July 28 where he faced Judge Ellen Mandeltort.
Image credits: ABC 7 Chicago
She determined that due to him being “a threat to the public,” he would remain behind bars until his next hearing, which is scheduled for August 22 this year.
Schmidt planned on taking his own life after shooting his daughter-in-law
Mandeltort’s decision came despite claims by Schmidt’s defense that he was of ill health.
Testifying to this claim, Schmidt was reportedly wearing what appeared to be light-blue hospital garb on the day.
Also counting against Schmidt’s bid for bail was Cook County State’s Attorney Sheri Bennet’s assertion that Schmidt planned on turning the g*n on himself after ending Moyer’s life.
The family sat together at the wedding as if nothing was wrong, then Schmidt was seen leaving the hotel, walking faster than usual
Bennet also noted that during the wedding proceedings, the family sat together with “nothing out of the ordinary.”
Michael, Schmidt’s son and Moyer’s husband, was also present at the wedding, but the estranged couple’s two children were in another location with a babysitter, as the function was an adults-only event.
Image credits: Schaumburg Police Department
Chicago’s WGN9 reported that Moyer had been married to Moyer’s son Michael for 16 years, and the two had restraining orders against each other.
Unnamed members of the family connections have called on the public to pray for Moyer’s children
The family has since refrained from public statements other than “Pray for her children,” voiced by two unknown insiders attending the July 28 hearing.
The Daily Herald quoted State Attorney Bennet saying of Moyer that she was “a person who was loved by all.”
The family has since refrained from public statements other than “Pray for her children,” voiced by two unknown insiders attending the July 28 hearing.
The Daily Herald quoted State Attorney Bennet saying of Moyer that she was “a person who was loved by all.”
In the shooting, the public sees merit for Moyer's divorce filing
