Attorney General Jon Bruning

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                    Contact: Holley Hatt

August 13, 2007 11:45am CDT                                                  402.471.2067

Judge Gives Schroeder Life in Prison

for Murdering Pawnee County Man

(Lincoln, NE) Attorney General Jon Bruning today announced Patrick Schroeder, 30, of Dubois was sentenced in Pawnee County District Court to life in prison for first degree murder, 20 years in prison for use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony and 30 to 60 years in prison for forgery as a habitual criminal. All three sentences will be served consecutively.

“Justice prevailed today,” Bruning said. “Mr. Schroeder brutally took a man’s life and now he’ll pay by spending the rest of his life in prison. I hope this helps bring some closure to the Albers family and to the residents of Pawnee City.”

On April 14, 2006, Schroeder murdered his former employer, Kenneth Albers of Pawnee City, while robbing him at his home. Albers died of blunt force trauma to the head. Albers’ body was later found in an abandoned well on his property southwest of Pawnee City.

The forgery charges stem from an incident on April 10 when Schroeder stole a checkbook from Albers, forged Albers’ signature on a check, and cashed it.

Assistant Attorneys General Doug Warner and Jeff Gaertig handled the case.

###

An audio clip about the sentence is posted on the Attorney General’s web site at www.ago.state.ne.us.