Courtney Schulhoff
Encyclopedia
Courtney Christine Schulhoff (born December 27, 1987 in Washington, D.C.
) is an American female prisoner who bludgeoned her father to death in their Altamonte Springs, Florida
apartment when she was 16 years old She was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in September 2006. In 2009, Courtney was interviewed at the Lowell Correctional Institution
in Ocala, Florida
by RTL
, a German news show, about the punishment of life without parole for juvenile offenders.
with her father after her parents divorced. She attended Lyman High School
, but had dropped out and was pursuing her GED
. It was there where 15 year-old Courtney met her 20 year-old boyfriend Michael Morin. Michael was on probation
for car theft, and Courtney's father did not approve of their relationship. The two however, continued to date. Courtney had told Michael that her father had physically abused
her.
20 miles away in Orlando, Florida
using Stephen's truck. Later in the afternoon, Courtney and Michael returned to the apartment. Michael had later said that he and Courtney had planned to take Stephen's body to Brevard County
and throw it off a bridge. Shortly after the murder, Courtney and Michael were apprehended after Stephen Schulhoff's girlfriend, Elaine Bouck, had called 911.Courtney stated to police that she waited at the apartment complex tennis court
s while Michael committed the murder, and she admitted to leaving the Louisville Slugger baseball bat
outside the bedroom door. Michael claimed that he had tried to talk Courtney out of killing her father, to no avail.
, stating: "Your Honor, I would like to openly admit in court that Michael Morin is not the person who killed my father. I was. So, I accept full responsibility, and I accept the verdict."
Michael Morin's murder trial began in 2007. Unlike his former girlfriend, he was facing a death sentence
if convicted. During his testimony
, he admitted killing Stephen Schulhoff but expressed regret for the action. At the trial, Courtney also testified in Michael's defense. She had given a new deposition
after her conviction, and stated that she was the one who had bludgeoned Stephen Schulhoff to death with the baseball bat. However, on April 26, 2007, Michael Morin was convicted. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and is serving his sentence at the Taylor Correctional Institution.
in a study of juvenile life without parole.
Her case was profiled on Snapped
in April 2011.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
) is an American female prisoner who bludgeoned her father to death in their Altamonte Springs, Florida
Altamonte Springs, Florida
Altamonte Springs is a city in Seminole county in the U.S. state of Florida, which had a population of 41,496 at the 2010 census. Located primarily in Seminole County, the city is in the northern suburbs of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the United States...
apartment when she was 16 years old She was convicted of first-degree murder and was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole in September 2006. In 2009, Courtney was interviewed at the Lowell Correctional Institution
Lowell Correctional Institution
Lowell Correctional Institution located in unincorporated Marion County, Florida, near Ocala, was the first Florida prison for women. It was opened in April 1956 as the Florida Correctional Institution. It houses community, minimum, medium, and close custody inmates. At the time it was opened,...
in Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
by RTL
RTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
, a German news show, about the punishment of life without parole for juvenile offenders.
Background
Courtney Schulhoff lived in Altamonte Springs, FloridaAltamonte Springs, Florida
Altamonte Springs is a city in Seminole county in the U.S. state of Florida, which had a population of 41,496 at the 2010 census. Located primarily in Seminole County, the city is in the northern suburbs of the Orlando–Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the United States...
with her father after her parents divorced. She attended Lyman High School
Lyman High School
Lyman High School is a public high school located in Longwood, Florida, a city located approximately 10 miles north of Orlando. The school, founded in 1924, has been consistently ranked among the best in the state by the Florida Department of Education. It was ranked by Newsweek as the 204th best...
, but had dropped out and was pursuing her GED
GED
General Educational Development tests are a group of five subject tests which, when passed, certify that the taker has American or Canadian high school-level academic skills...
. It was there where 15 year-old Courtney met her 20 year-old boyfriend Michael Morin. Michael was on probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
for car theft, and Courtney's father did not approve of their relationship. The two however, continued to date. Courtney had told Michael that her father had physically abused
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
her.
Murder
During the early morning hours of February 10, 2004, Courtney Schulhoff's father, Stephen Schulhoff, was beaten to death inside his apartment. After the murder, Courtney and Michael reportedly drove to a McDonald'sMcDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
20 miles away in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
using Stephen's truck. Later in the afternoon, Courtney and Michael returned to the apartment. Michael had later said that he and Courtney had planned to take Stephen's body to Brevard County
Brevard County, Florida
Brevard County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida, along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2007 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the population is 536,521, making it the 10th most populous county in the state. Influenced by the presence of the John F. Kennedy Space Center, Brevard...
and throw it off a bridge. Shortly after the murder, Courtney and Michael were apprehended after Stephen Schulhoff's girlfriend, Elaine Bouck, had called 911.Courtney stated to police that she waited at the apartment complex tennis court
Tennis court
A tennis court is where the game of tennis is played. It is a firm rectangular surface with a low net stretched across the center. The same surface can be used to play both doubles and singles.-Dimensions:...
s while Michael committed the murder, and she admitted to leaving the Louisville Slugger baseball bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
outside the bedroom door. Michael claimed that he had tried to talk Courtney out of killing her father, to no avail.
Trials
Courtney was the first of the defendants to stand trial. Her trial began on September 26, 2006. Prosecutors alleged that although Michael Morin had committed the murder, Courtney had made it all happen. She did not testify in her own defense at the trial. The next day, she was found guilty of first-degree murder. Because she was only 16 when the murder was committed, she was ineligible for the death penalty; on September 27, 2006, she was sentenced to life without parole. After the judge handed down the obligatory sentence, Courtney Schulhoff spoke out in open courtIn open court
In open court is a legal term in the United States defined by the appearance by a party or their attorney in a public court session such as during a trial...
, stating: "Your Honor, I would like to openly admit in court that Michael Morin is not the person who killed my father. I was. So, I accept full responsibility, and I accept the verdict."
Michael Morin's murder trial began in 2007. Unlike his former girlfriend, he was facing a death sentence
Death Sentence
Death Sentence is a short story by the American science-fiction writer Isaac Asimov. It was first published in the November 1943 issue of Astounding Science Fiction and reprinted in the 1972 collection The Early Asimov.-Plot summary:...
if convicted. During his testimony
Testimony
In law and in religion, testimony is a solemn attestation as to the truth of a matter. All testimonies should be well thought out and truthful. It was the custom in Ancient Rome for the men to place their right hand on a Bible when taking an oath...
, he admitted killing Stephen Schulhoff but expressed regret for the action. At the trial, Courtney also testified in Michael's defense. She had given a new deposition
Deposition
Deposition or Depose may refer to:* Deposition , taking testimony outside of court* Deposition , molecules settling out of a solution...
after her conviction, and stated that she was the one who had bludgeoned Stephen Schulhoff to death with the baseball bat. However, on April 26, 2007, Michael Morin was convicted. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and is serving his sentence at the Taylor Correctional Institution.
Aftermath
In May 2009, Courtney Schulhoff's case was used by RTLRTL Television
Rtl.de' redirects here. For other uses, see RTL.RTL Television , or simply RTL, is a German commercial television station distributed via cable and satellite along with DVB-T , in larger population centres...
in a study of juvenile life without parole.
Her case was profiled on Snapped
Snapped
Snapped is an American true crime television series that airs on the Oxygen Network. Snapped debuted on August 6, 2004 and is produced in conjunction with Jupiter Entertainment.-Synopsis:...
in April 2011.