Mooney's Murder

Ok, I have had this brought up in the Winet forum and would like to put it out there as a new topic since I feel I don't need to continue to ask for info on the Winet forum. I am curious as to whether I knew this sex preditor. Somewhere in the back of my mind I do remember the name and fact that he was a smelly man, someone to avoid.

Moon's last name was Schwind, and he lived outside of Highland off of 40 east towards Pierron. In a big white house. He was a man that lived a double life. he would go up town to Curt's and hang out with the old guys their. And then at night he was a drug dealing sex offender. I remember him from Curt's hanging out with my grandpa. He was a smelly man! I THINK he was in his 50's or 60's when he was killed. I don't remember much but if you like I can call my grandpa tonite and ask.

He was killed on Feb. 21, 1996.

ok, I have done a google on this and come up with nothing. If I maybe had first names of the Runge boys or the shoemaker. Where can I get more info on this. I have tried death records and everything.

It's spelled Schwend.

Belleville News-Democrat

EDWARDSVILLE -- Convicted killer Gary Runge lost his bid Wednesday to reduce his 60-year prison sentence for murdering a Highland man and, after some complaining to the judge, dropped his motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

Runge's public defender, Tyler Bateman, argued that Runge's sentence is not proportionate to the sentences of co-defendants Joe Runge and Ria Schumacher in the killing of Donald ``Moon'' Schwend in February 1996.

Joe Runge, 34, was sentenced to 35 years in prison and Schumacher, 18, received a 30-year sentence as part of a negotiated plea. Police say the Runges and Schumacher went to Schwend's house to rob him of drugs and money. Marijuana plants and videos of semi-nude girls were found at the home.

Assistant State's Attorney Susan Jensen argued that Gary Runge's sentence is appropriate because he was the triggerman.

Circuit Judge Charles Romani Jr., who presided in all three defendants' cases, denied the motion to reduce the sentence.

Runge had filed a motion to withdraw his guilty plea, but after Romani denied the request for a sentence reduction, Bateman said Runge no longer wanted to withdraw the plea.

Romani asked Runge if that, in fact, was what he wanted to do.

``Not really, but that's what I'm going to do,'' Runge replied.``I don't want to sit in the county jail. That's why I'm doing it.''

Runge is serving his sentence at Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet.

Romani asked Runge if anyone had forced him to make the decision.

``You guys have,'' he said. He then asked how Romani could make a decision,``just like that'' on the sentence reduction request.

``There's nothing new that has been presented to this court that would change my mind,'' Romani said.

Romani pressed Runge about his intention to drop the motion to withdraw his guilty plea.

``Do what you want,'' Runge answered.``You'll do it anyway.'' Eventually, he confirmed that he wanted to drop the issue.

Bateman declined to comment afterward on Runge's decision.

Jensen said that if Runge had withdrawn his plea, she would have sought the death penalty.

Runge, 29, of New Douglas, pleaded guilty in March to one count of murder and one count of armed robbery. Along with the 60-year murder sentence, he received a 20-year sentence for armed robbery, to be served at the same time.

A detective testified earlier that the three decided to have Joe Runge and Schumacher, who was acquainted with the 62-year-old Schwend, go to his door and ask for gasoline. Joe Runge and Schumacher would then step aside for Gary Runge to shoot Schwend.

Gary Runge shot Schwend twice, reloading the shotgun in between, according to police.

Ria Schumacher was just release from prison in May.

If she was sentence to 30 years how come she is out already? That is less than 12 years isn't it?
How did you find this info out?

Illinois Department of Corrections website.

Most of the time the prisons are over crowded and it depends on the level of crime... such as a grade D offence with a 5 year back up means that if this person did the 5 years they would only do like 80% of the time. This may have changed over the years. They is when you hear them sad that he/she has no chance of early parole. Then they do the full 5 years. It is all about over population in the prisons.

Has anyone checked to see how she is doing?

I'm sorry Booger I meant to thank you for getting me the info. Hopefully what I said above makes sense. It all depends on the severety of the crime. Ex. Repeated DUI is a Class D offence. Class C is a stronger charge.. all the way up to A.

Umm, actually felonies are 1,2,3,4 and Class X - very serious. Class M - Murder. Misdemeanors are ABDC

Thank you Booger. I stand corrected. I guess I only knew about misdemeanors. Been away from the criminal influences now days. But it is still the same jist if you know what I mean.

Good News! Rhea Schomacher, A.K.A., the facilitator for the murder and also prime sexually offended by Moon is up for parole late this year. She can give us the real poop on this story.

baby-sitter wrote:

ok, I have done a google on this and come up with nothing. If I maybe had first names of the Runge boys or the shoemaker. Where can I get more info on this. I have tried death records and everything.

you;re way behind )not Brad Sherman( Ria is already out on parole and she aint talking to nobody cuz she dont want to go back

Ria is out. She is doing well and keeping a low profile. She has a job and is counciling young offenders and drug addicts. She is going to keep her stuff together and stay out.

Moon was a guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you ask for it. As for what he did--He would keep drugs around for the purpose of young women wanting them. He would often say "I'll give you some if you clean my house with no shirt on".

I don't think he did anything worse than the strip clubs do!

Basically the girls that went over there sold there body to him because THEY wanted something. He never forced anything!

And as for the people who planned to kill him. Murder is murder If your doing it to steal drugs and guns or baseball cards and bubblegum.

Wow...i have read all of the comments on here and I find it absolutly amazing that all of you don't have any idea what you are talking about!! If you are so interested in something that happened twelve years ago in someone elses life, what is really going on in your lives? Maybe, before you point the finger and play Judge, you should look back and ask yourselves, did you ever make any mistakes? In the Bible it states that a sin is a sin...one no greater than the other. For your information...I am doing very well...working a great job, volunteering for organizations in the community and helping teens not to make the same bad decisions that I made a a teen. What are you all doing to help the state of the world, or your own communities for that matter? If you are truly interested in knowing the truth about this case and go through the trouble to contact me, I will be happy to give you all the answers you seek. Until then, instead of pointing fingers, why not get together and pray for all of the teenagers in this world that are alone, scared, and seeking drugs and alcohol to hide from their pain??

somebody who knows wrote:

Ria is out. She is doing well and keeping a low profile. She has a job and is counciling young offenders and drug addicts. She is going to keep her stuff together and stay out.

Thanks for the nice comment about me...you are right, I am going to keep it together. It is sad the way people judge without even knowing any of the real facts, though. But, I can't live my life on what other people think about me. Just wanted you to know that I appriciate what you posted about me...

Ria, I'm glad you're out and doing well. Don't concern yourself about what's being said about you and you're mistakes on this forum. We are human and we will gossip and pass on bum info. If you read this forum I'm sure you've seen all the "junk" written about the Winet case. I'm sure some of it was true some false, same as with your situation. You just hang in there, keep God close and take care of you and yours.