Hope Schreiner Death: Vermont Woman Convicted of Husband’s Murder Passes Away After Medical Furlough
Hope Schreiner Death: Family and friends are mourning the passing of Hope Schreiner, a West Townshend woman who gained notoriety after being convicted in 2006 for the murder of her elderly husband, Robert Schreiner. Hope’s recent death occurred after she was moved to hospice from jail due to a “terminal or debilitating” illness.
Conviction and Early Release
In March 2006, Hope Schreiner was found guilty of second-degree murder in the death of her 78-year-old husband, Robert Schreiner. The conviction sentenced her to 17 years to life. However, due to a “terminal or debilitating” illness, Hope was released on a medical furlough from jail and transferred to a northern Vermont nursing home.
Dean George, chairman of the Vermont Parole Board, clarified that the decision for Hope’s medical furlough was made by the Department of Corrections, and she was released to a nursing home rather than the Parole Board. Hope Schreiner was the oldest female prisoner in the state and the second-oldest prisoner currently under detention.
Timeline of Events
Hope Schreiner had been detained at the Waterbury state complex’s Dale prison unit for women since her conviction eight years prior. Following her release, she was transferred to a South Burlington women’s jail. Her husband, Robert Schreiner, was struck in the head with a sharp object, believed to be a potato hoe, according to evidence presented during the trial.
Medical Privacy and Supervision
Cullen Bullard, the Director of Classifications and Facilities Designation at the Department of Corrections, emphasized that Hope Schreiner was not eligible for release until March 2023. He noted that she was under supervision while on furlough, and discussions regarding her treatment had been ongoing for eight to nine months. Medical privacy rules prevented Bullard from disclosing the specifics of Hope’s condition.
Hope and Robert Schreiner’s Story
Hope and Robert Schreiner were married for forty-three years, overcoming various challenges and sharing a life that appeared to be a happy, long-lasting love. In June 2004, tragedy struck when Robert was found dead in their driveway, his head bearing multiple wedge-shaped puncture marks. The medical examiner concluded that blunt-force trauma was the cause of death.
The case gained attention when it was revealed that 71-year-old Hope had started an affair with 77-year-old Donald Bouret in the months leading up to her husband’s murder. Despite the tumultuous circumstances, the couple seemed to be making plans for the future, with their house sold, and a new one being built.
Legacy and Controversy
Hope Schreiner’s passing marks the end of a tumultuous chapter, leaving a legacy of controversy and a legal case that gripped the community. As family and friends mourn her death, questions linger about the events that led to Robert Schreiner’s tragic end in 2004.
