COLUMBUS, Ind. — A Columbus woman allegedly shot and killed by her husband last week in an apparent murder-suicide had sought a protective order days before her death, per a report by Louisville TV Station WLKY. It was denied.
Officers with the Columbus Police Department (CPD) found Julie Anne Schmidtke, 36, and Charles W. Schmidtke, 41, dead inside their 2272 Sumpter Ct. home on December 19 after receiving a report that the woman’s estranged husband had allegedly entered the residence and possibly shot her, according to authorities.
Court records show Julie Schmidtke sought the protective order 10 days prior to her death and filed for divorce five days before she was allegedly murdered. Bartholomew Superior Court 2 Judge Jon Rohde denied the request on December 9. Rohde previously served as police chief in Columbus.
Julie Schmidtke’s family members told WLKY the shooting happened in front of the couple’s two sons.
Julie Schmidtke was found to have multiple gunshot wounds to her body and Charles Schmidtke died from a single gunshot to the head, according to Bartholomew County Coroner Clayton Nolting. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.
