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3 indicted in alleged Belton Bridge Park murder plot
Grand jury hears case against victim's wife, 2 others
0611INDICMENTstacey schoeck
Stacey Schoeck

The wife of a man shot to death on Valentine’s Day in a remote Hall County park was indicted Thursday along with two others in connection with his murder.

A Hall County grand jury returned the three-count indictment late Thursday, charging Stacey Morgan Schoeck, Lynitra Ross and Reginald Coleman with malice murder in the death of 45-year-old Richard Schoeck of Snellville.

The indictment alleges the three defendants “did directly and as a party to the crime cause the death of Richard Schoeck by shooting him with a firearm.”

Coleman, the alleged triggerman in what authorities believe was a conspiracy to murder Stacey Schoeck’s husband, was indicted on charges of possession of a firearm — a 9 mm handgun — during the commission of a crime and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The indictment said Coleman, a personal trainer from Austell who advertised his services under the name “Mr. Results,” was convicted in Philadelphia in 1992 for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Authorities have said little about their investigation into the murder, but a family member said last week that detectives believe Coleman was paid to kill Richard Schoeck. A financial motive is suspected.

Ross was a co-worker of Stacey Schoeck’s at a DeKalb County spinal clinic, where Schoeck worked as an administrator. Coleman was acquainted with Ross.

The indictment came a little more than two weeks after the three were arrested. They remain jailed without bond, though Stacey Schoeck has a pending motion for a bond hearing.

The shooting occurred on the night of Feb. 14 at Belton Bridge Park, a remote, unlit park near Lula. Stacey Schoeck called 911 around 9 p.m. to report finding her husband laying outside his truck, dead from gunshot wounds.

Stacey Schoeck later told investigators she was supposed to meet her husband at the park that night while returning from her grandparents’ home outside Cleveland.

The couple had been married for a little less than two years at the time of the shooting. They were active in scouting with Stacey Schoeck’s children and last year the couple ran a summer scouting camp in Snellville.

Richard Schoeck worked as a facilities manager at a Gwinnett County medical building. He was known by friends for his interests in motorcycles and hot air balloons.

Just days before her arrest, Stacey Schoeck spread her husband’s ashes from a hot air balloon.

A call to Stacey Schoeck’s attorney was not immediately returned Thursday night.