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The community was in an uproar when beloved Northeastern State University professor Tiffany Maher was brutally murdered in her home in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, in 2013. But beneath the brutal details surrounding her case and convicted murderer Joshua Schneider's trial is a darker story: one of betrayal, violence, and attempted erasure of truth.
As Investigation Discovery revisits the life and untimely death of Tiffany Maher in the upcoming episode of Killer Chemistry, viewers can delve deeper into the details of this tragic case and its aftermath in the courts. The episode airs on Saturday, 31 August 2024, at 10 PM ET/PT on ID.
Here are five chilling details about the murder of Tiffany Maher, which paint a haunting picture of this tragic crime.
Five shocking details of Tiffany Maher's murder
1) A meeting through an online dating website
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Tiffany Maher's association with Joshua Schneider started innocently enough via an online dating website. What appeared to be a harmless, modern-day means of meeting others proved to be a deadly encounter. Schneider used the website to make Maher let her guard down and then took that as an opportunity to meet her face-to-face.
Adding to the disturbance of the crime was the fact that through this online connection, Schneider could orchestrate such a horrific plan; it showed the potential danger of online dating in which trust is misplaced.
2) A brutal murder followed by arson
Joshua Schneider visited Tiffany Maher at her home in Tahlequah on the day of the murder. It was through pure, brutal violence that he took her life inside her house. He then set Maher's body and her house on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and disguise his crime.
The fire not only caused extensive damage to Maher's home but also added a level of horror to the crime because it was a deliberate attempt to erase any traces of what had happened. What made it an even more tragic and gruesome crime scene was that the method of concealing the murder was through arson.
3) Evidence that led to Schneider's conviction
Despite Schneider's efforts to mask the crime, several pieces of evidence linked him with Maher's murder: digital footprints from their online communication, witness accounts, and physical evidence at the crime scene. This was the evidence the prosecution presented in court, clearly outlining Schneider's guilt.
The jury, on deliberation, pronounced Schneider guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree arson, and larceny counts that led to his conviction. The evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Schneider committed the crime, even though he remained innocent throughout the criminal trial.
4) Three consecutive life sentences
The crime committed attracted severe punishment for Joshua Schneider. For these, Schneider was handed down a sentence of three concurrent life sentences upon conviction on all counts. This sentence was severe, underlining the heinousness not only of the crime but also how it had thrown Tiffany Maher's family and friends into an abyss that was never to be surmounted.
Therefore, the sentencing in this case was a no-nonsense message from the court that such brutality would not be swept under the carpet. However, Schneider appealed the sentence because it was excessive, and his constitutional rights were violated.
5) An appeal that claimed an unfair trial
Since his conviction, Joshua Schneider has continued to proclaim his innocence, filing an appeal that not only contested his guilty verdict but also the harshness of his sentence. The appeal by Schneider cited insufficient evidence at the time of trial for his conviction and that the sentence of three lifetimes was "disproportionate and excessive."
The second argument from Schneider was that he did not receive a fair hearing, as the court denied his petition to change the venue, resulting in a partial jury. Missing exhibits and defective video evidence in the trial record further complicated the appeal process and added another layer of controversy to a disturbing case. His appeal was rejected, and his sentence was reaffirmed by the court in 2017.
The murder of Tiffany Maher by a person with whom she had such innocuous connections is a tragic reminder of the potential dangers that can arise. The details of her death, the ugly attempt at a cover-up, and the battle through the courts over Joshua Schneider's conviction continue to haunt those who knew her.
The case continues to remain an unfortunately poignant illustration of the complexities of the justice system and the staying power of the imprint that violent crime leaves on victims and communities alike.
