Central Ohio woman killed by father-in-law after family wedding, prosecutors say

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A central Ohio woman was allegedly killed by her father-in-law on Friday while attending a wedding in Illinois, police said.

Roland Schmidt, 76, of Stillman Valley, Illinois, allegedly shot and killed his daughter-in-law, Christine Moyer, 45, of Galena, outside of a Marriott hotel in a suburb of Chicago, according to the Schaumburg Police Department.

Schmidt was reportedly upset at Moyer, who had filed divorce paperwork against his son, according to police. Delaware County court records show Moyer filed for divorce on July 7.

Moyer and her husband of 16 years moved from the Chicago area to Ohio in August 2024. They had returned to Illinois on July 23 to attend doctors appointments and a family wedding on July 25, prosecutors said.

At the wedding, Moyer, her husband, Schmidt and several others all sat at the same table, prosecutors said. There was no discussion about the divorce, as only the parents knew. There were no fights or arguments. The couple had two children, who were with a babysitter at the time.

Witnesses said Schmidt, who uses a cane, quickly walked toward Moyer as she was leaving the venue with several family members after the wedding. Schmidt then allegedly shot her in the back of the head, according to prosecutors.

A group of people outside the hotel took Schmidt to the ground and restrained him, and one person took the gun away.

Schmidt was detained, and as he was being placed in the police vehicle, he asked his son to forgive him, prosecutors said. Schmidt admitted he had made the plan to shoot Moyer a week earlier and that he also planned to take his own life.

Schmidt was charged with first-degree murder. WGN reported that he was denied pre-trial release.