x
Breaking News
More () »

Court denies Iowa inmate’s claim that life-sentence should end because he briefly died

Benjamin Schreiber alleged in his post-conviction relief filing that because he momentarily died, his sentence had been fulfilled.

DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that a man serving a life sentence in prison for murder still must complete his time behind bars despite falling unconscious and being resuscitated.

Benjamin Schreiber was convicted of first-degree murder in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Schreiber filed for post-conviction relief, stating that in March 2015, he was hospitalized after large kidney stones caused him to urinate internally, “which in turn led to him developing septic poisoning.”

“According to Schreiber’s pleadings, the septic poisoning caused him to fall unconscious in his prison cell,” the ruling reads. “He was transported to a local hospital where he was resuscitated five times by receiving ‘adrenaline/epinephrine via an IV’.”

RELATED: Woman arrested for smuggling drugs into Clark County jail

RELATED: Inmate back in custody after walking away from work detail in Casa Grande

Schreiber alleged in his 2018 post-conviction relief filing that because he momentarily died, his sentence had been fulfilled.

The Iowa Court of Appeals disagreed.

“Schreiber is either still alive, in which case he must remain in prison, or he is actually dead, in which case this appeal is moot,” Judge Amanda Potterfield wrote.

RELATED: Hampton Roads art museums to show works from local inmates

RELATED: Texas 7 escapee gets second stay of execution after argument over religious discrimination

RELATED: School security guard accused of chest bumping police, interfering with arrest of suspect

Credit: AP
This photo provided by Iowa Department of Corrections shows Benjamin Edward Schreiber.

Before You Leave, Check This Out