Convicted rapist now charged in 1995 attack of 9-year-old girl
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TACOMA, Wash. -- After a 17-year search for a suspect in a child rape case, Pierce County prosecutors say a DNA hit has led them to a suspect who has already been convicted of another rape.
Donald Schneider is now accused of raping and kidnapping a then-9-year-old girl in Buckley. Prosecutors say Schneider was driving by and noted the girl walking to her bus stop. He stopped his car and asked her what time it was, then dragged her by her hair and forced him into her car, stating: "Get down and stay down or else I’ll cut your head open," according to prosecutors.
He then took her into a wooded area and raped her, investigators said. The victim told police as he left, he told her, "Don't tell or I'll come back, 'cause I know where you live and I'll kill your family - even you."
A passerby later found the victim near the woods but, nobody knew anything about her attacker.
The case went unsolved until cold case detectives sent the victim's underwear to the State Patrol crime lab for a DNA analysis. The results led prosecutors Schneider, who's 53-years-old now and living inside the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. Schneider is currently serving a life sentence without parole for a rape he committed in 2007. He's also been convicted of second degree rape in 1982.
"While the defendant is currently serving a life sentence for a different crime, we are prosecuting him for two reasons," said Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist. "One, to obtain justice for this victim on this case, and two, so we have an insurance policy to keep a dangerous offender in prison where he belongs."
The Department of Corrections transported Schneider to the Pierce County Jail Tuesday and he'll be arraigned Thursday on charges of first degree murder and first degree kidnapping.
Donald Schneider is now accused of raping and kidnapping a then-9-year-old girl in Buckley. Prosecutors say Schneider was driving by and noted the girl walking to her bus stop. He stopped his car and asked her what time it was, then dragged her by her hair and forced him into her car, stating: "Get down and stay down or else I’ll cut your head open," according to prosecutors.
He then took her into a wooded area and raped her, investigators said. The victim told police as he left, he told her, "Don't tell or I'll come back, 'cause I know where you live and I'll kill your family - even you."
A passerby later found the victim near the woods but, nobody knew anything about her attacker.
The case went unsolved until cold case detectives sent the victim's underwear to the State Patrol crime lab for a DNA analysis. The results led prosecutors Schneider, who's 53-years-old now and living inside the state penitentiary in Walla Walla. Schneider is currently serving a life sentence without parole for a rape he committed in 2007. He's also been convicted of second degree rape in 1982.
"While the defendant is currently serving a life sentence for a different crime, we are prosecuting him for two reasons," said Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist. "One, to obtain justice for this victim on this case, and two, so we have an insurance policy to keep a dangerous offender in prison where he belongs."
The Department of Corrections transported Schneider to the Pierce County Jail Tuesday and he'll be arraigned Thursday on charges of first degree murder and first degree kidnapping.
I praise the police for finding an outcome. However I question why it has taken so long to send the item to the Crime Lab and/or why the Lab is 17 years behind. DNA testing has been around how long now??? Quite awhile.
If you going to prosecute this turd, seek the death penalty. Otherwise, only the lawyers will benefit. A waste of taxpayers money.
I am confused. This article says he committed the crime of rape, but it being charged for first degree murder? All in all, sad story, but not sure if Komo meant to say murder...Â
@cna7 Both should be the death penalty.
There is no punishment severe enough for garbage like this.
I don't want to pay for this garbage to live out his life on my dime. After this next conviction let the family of, or the victim decide his fate. I bet they don't decide life in prison. Who says his life is any worse in prison anyway. We hang people who take the lives of others. Even though he didn't kill this little girl he still took her life. Â
Sick Bastard.
Come on folks -- proofread the second sentence of the second paragraph.
 @Bystander More like proofread and edit the entire article. If I submitted this in high school to my English teacher, I would have received a C- at best.
I said this about the guy who put ads on craigslist to have his wife raped; that I hoped he gets locked up and buttraped in prison by his cellmate. I hope the same goes for this guy. 9 years old, thats sick and disgusting, I cannot comprehend it