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| Andrew Schmuhl denied bond in torture, stabbing of McLean couple | Andrew Schmuhl denied bond in torture, stabbing of McLean couple |
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| The Springfield man who, along with his wife, is accused of brutally stabbing a McLean couple was denied bond Tuesday morning after new details emerged in the attack that prosecutors describe as a “torture session.” | The Springfield man who, along with his wife, is accused of brutally stabbing a McLean couple was denied bond Tuesday morning after new details emerged in the attack that prosecutors describe as a “torture session.” |
| Andrew Schmuhl appeared at a hearing in Fairfax County. He is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force. Prosecutors say he and his wife, Alecia Schmuhl, broke into a McLean home Nov. 9 and left homeowners Leo Fisher and his wife, Susan Duncan, with life-threatening injuries. | Andrew Schmuhl appeared at a hearing in Fairfax County. He is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force. Prosecutors say he and his wife, Alecia Schmuhl, broke into a McLean home Nov. 9 and left homeowners Leo Fisher and his wife, Susan Duncan, with life-threatening injuries. |
| At Tuesday’s hearing, Pierre Priale, a defense attorney for Andrew Schmuhl, said his client had suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 in an accident that affected his mobility. Priale argued that because of the injury, his client should be released on bond so that his parents could care for him. Andrew Schmuhl’s parents were in the courtroom. | At Tuesday’s hearing, Pierre Priale, a defense attorney for Andrew Schmuhl, said his client had suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 in an accident that affected his mobility. Priale argued that because of the injury, his client should be released on bond so that his parents could care for him. Andrew Schmuhl’s parents were in the courtroom. |
| But a prosecutor showed a photo of Schmuhl playing in a kickball tournament in August. In reference to the night of the attack, Fairfax County Chief Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Casey Lingan said, “He had no trouble making his way around that night.” | But a prosecutor showed a photo of Schmuhl playing in a kickball tournament in August. In reference to the night of the attack, Fairfax County Chief Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Casey Lingan said, “He had no trouble making his way around that night.” |
| Prosecutors at a bond hearing last week for Alecia Schmuhl described the attack as an act of revenge. Bond in her case also was denied. She is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force, as well as felony eluding and obstruction of justice. | Prosecutors at a bond hearing last week for Alecia Schmuhl described the attack as an act of revenge. Bond in her case also was denied. She is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force, as well as felony eluding and obstruction of justice. |
| Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh said at Friday’s hearing that Alecia Schmuhl was angry about her recent dismissal from Fisher’s firm, Bean Kinney & Korman, where she was a lawyer. | Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh said at Friday’s hearing that Alecia Schmuhl was angry about her recent dismissal from Fisher’s firm, Bean Kinney & Korman, where she was a lawyer. |
| The Schmuhls are accused of breaking into the McLean home, using a stun gun on Fisher, and stabbing him and Duncan. Prosecutors have said the couple were held hostage in their home for hours and described the incident as a “torture session.” | The Schmuhls are accused of breaking into the McLean home, using a stun gun on Fisher, and stabbing him and Duncan. Prosecutors have said the couple were held hostage in their home for hours and described the incident as a “torture session.” |
| A few new details about the attack came out at Tuesday’s hearing. It was revealed that while Fisher and Duncan were tied up, Andrew Schmuhl pressed Fisher to log onto his computer to get personal details about other lawyers at the 70-person firm. | A few new details about the attack came out at Tuesday’s hearing. It was revealed that while Fisher and Duncan were tied up, Andrew Schmuhl pressed Fisher to log onto his computer to get personal details about other lawyers at the 70-person firm. |
| While Fisher was on the computer, Duncan was able to move from a bathroom where she was being held. Andrew Schmuhl fired at her, authorities said, and Duncan thought she had been shot in the head. Prosecutors, however, would not confirm after the hearing whether she was. | While Fisher was on the computer, Duncan was able to move from a bathroom where she was being held. Andrew Schmuhl fired at her, authorities said, and Duncan thought she had been shot in the head. Prosecutors, however, would not confirm after the hearing whether she was. |
| Duncan played dead, prosecutors said, and then hit a fire alarm. The alarm scared Schmuhl, and he and his wife fled in a car, authorities said. Officers later spotted the vehicle on the Capital Beltway and were led on a four-mile chase before they could stop it. | |
| Police said they found Andrew Schmuhl wearing only a diaper in the car. Bloody clothes, a Taser, a prescription pill bottle and a gun were also recovered from the vehicle, authorities said. | Police said they found Andrew Schmuhl wearing only a diaper in the car. Bloody clothes, a Taser, a prescription pill bottle and a gun were also recovered from the vehicle, authorities said. |
| At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors said the motive for the attack was clear. | At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors said the motive for the attack was clear. |
| “I submit this is all over the firing of his wife,” Lingan said. | “I submit this is all over the firing of his wife,” Lingan said. |
| Other partners at the firm attended the hearing, and were noticeably relieved by the bond decision. | Other partners at the firm attended the hearing, and were noticeably relieved by the bond decision. |
| Lingan declined to comment on Fisher or Duncan’s health or whether they are still in the hospital. | Lingan declined to comment on Fisher or Duncan’s health or whether they are still in the hospital. |
| The case has stunned the McLean neighborhood, which sees little crime, and left people in local legal circles wondering how this could happen. | The case has stunned the McLean neighborhood, which sees little crime, and left people in local legal circles wondering how this could happen. |
| Alecia Schmuhl, 30, was fired from Fisher’s law firm on Oct. 29 after working there for almost two years. Her husband, who also is a lawyer, had been accused by Fisher’s firm of committing fraud on a refinancing application. Andrew Schmuhl had been out of work for 2 1/2 years after he suffered a back injury in the Army. | Alecia Schmuhl, 30, was fired from Fisher’s law firm on Oct. 29 after working there for almost two years. Her husband, who also is a lawyer, had been accused by Fisher’s firm of committing fraud on a refinancing application. Andrew Schmuhl had been out of work for 2 1/2 years after he suffered a back injury in the Army. |
| Police and prosecutors say the couple’s anger hit a boiling point on that Sunday night. About 6:30 p.m., they say, Andrew Schmuhl knocked on Fisher’s door, posing as a law enforcement officer. As the incident unfolded, Fisher and Duncan were bound and threatened. | Police and prosecutors say the couple’s anger hit a boiling point on that Sunday night. About 6:30 p.m., they say, Andrew Schmuhl knocked on Fisher’s door, posing as a law enforcement officer. As the incident unfolded, Fisher and Duncan were bound and threatened. |
| At one point, Duncan saw someone who matched Alecia Schmuhl’s description outside the home, and Andrew Schmuhl flicked the lights on and off inside, as if to signal her. | At one point, Duncan saw someone who matched Alecia Schmuhl’s description outside the home, and Andrew Schmuhl flicked the lights on and off inside, as if to signal her. |
| After Duncan triggered the alarm and the attackers fled, Fairfax County police arrived at the home just before 10 p.m. and took a “dying declaration” from Fisher, Morrogh said. | After Duncan triggered the alarm and the attackers fled, Fairfax County police arrived at the home just before 10 p.m. and took a “dying declaration” from Fisher, Morrogh said. |
| Fisher and Duncan were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital in critical condition. Police said they have had difficulty interviewing them because of the extent of their injuries. | Fisher and Duncan were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital in critical condition. Police said they have had difficulty interviewing them because of the extent of their injuries. |
| Some who know the Schmuhls have had a tough time understanding what went wrong. | Some who know the Schmuhls have had a tough time understanding what went wrong. |
| Alecia Schmuhl speaks three languages and served on the board of the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. Andrew Schmuhl was a former judge advocate in the Army. Neither had a criminal record in Fairfax County. They both graduated from Valparaiso University Law School in 2009, the school said. | Alecia Schmuhl speaks three languages and served on the board of the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. Andrew Schmuhl was a former judge advocate in the Army. Neither had a criminal record in Fairfax County. They both graduated from Valparaiso University Law School in 2009, the school said. |
| Justin Jouvenal and Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report. | Justin Jouvenal and Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report. |