Where is James Schnick now? Details explored ahead of The Heartland Massacre on ID

James Schnick, the person convicted for the heinous Buckner family massacre in 1987, died in prison. On September 25, 1987, Schnick is known to have murdered his wife, Julie Schnick, along with his two nephews: Kirk and Michael Buckner. Kirk and Michael were children of Julie's brother Steve Buckner who was also found dead at his residence along with his wife, Jeanette, and their four children.

Schnick was convicted of several life sentences for his crimes and died on May 11, 2024, at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri. The cause of death could not be determined and an autopsy is pending.

The Heartland Massacre special on Investigation Discovery, puts the case back in the limelight, along with Schnick's fate. The Heartland Massacre special airs on August 21, 10.00 PM EST

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The crime and trial

Very early in the morning of September 25, 1987, the small city of Licking, Missouri, was struck with one of the most horrid crimes that the world could ever imagine. Armed with a rifle, James Schnick killed his wife, Julie Schnick; her brother Steve Buckner, her sister-in-law Jeanette Buckner; and four children of the Buckners, all between two and fourteen years of age.

The Buckner family was brutally murdered (image via Unsplash)

The crime shook the community and the authorities with its severity. After his arrest, Schnick was charged with numerous counts of murder. He was initially charged with seven first-degree murders. Before the commencement of the trial, four of these charges were dropped.

It was proven that Schnick had murdered his wife and two nephews, Kirk and Michael Buckner. The trial judge sentenced him to death for these crimes, but in 1992, his sentence was commuted to three life sentences without parole eligibility. The prosecution in the case against Schnick was very vigorous, bringing out the extent of his brutality to full view.

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James Schnick's imprisonment and death

James Schnick spent the rest of his days behind bars at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking, Missouri. His sentencing was a direct ramification of his heinous crimes of an aggravated nature involving multiple murders of family members.

James Schnick died in prison (image via Unsplash)

The murderer had earlier attempted to shift the blame on his 14-year-old nephew before claiming self-defense, then eventually pleaded guilty to all seven murders. He remained incarcerated until his death on May 11, 2024. Schnick was 73 years old at the time of his death.

The Missouri Department of Corrections reported the death, although details of the cause were not made available due to a pending autopsy.

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The impact of Schnick's death and The Heartland Massacre

Interest in the Buckner family massacre regained momentum with the death of James Schnick. Though it did not motivate any investigative pieces immediately after his death, the case will be revisited on August 21, 2024, with the premiere of The Heartland Massacre on Investigation Discovery.

Representative image of court trial (Photo by KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA/ Pexels)

That new spotlight on the case helps revisit those traumatizing events and also takes a deeper look at its impact on the community and the families of the victims. The publicity over Schnick's demise and the continuing media glare reflect the lingering impact of his crimes.

The massacre remains a heightened incident in Missouri's history, proving that the consequences of such violence are profound and long-lasting. With this feature-length documentary, the channel tries to study the rise, event, and aftermath to add to public understanding of this tragic case.

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Schnick spent the last decades of his life serving multiple life sentences and died on May 11, 2024.