Former Clown Charged With Killing Newborn Daughter 3 Decades Ago

A 51-year-old Wisconsin man who worked as a professional clown was taken into custody this week and charged with killing his newborn baby girl three decades ago.

Milwaukee resident Ronald Schroeder was charged by prosecutors in southeastern Wisconsin with first-degree reckless homicide and two counts of physical abuse of a child for the death of his daughter Catherine in August 1991, the Associated Press reported, citing court documents.

Schroeder, who made a living as “Silly the Clown” in southeast Wisconsin, was an initial suspect after the 7-week-old baby died of what doctors ruled was “shaken baby” syndrome, WITI-TV reported.

Catherine suffered fractured ribs, contusions to her brain and enough force to cause detached retinas that resulted in blood behind the eyes, The Daily Beast reported, citing local media.

Schroeder had been repeatedly accused of abusive behavior by the family of Catherine's mother, Christine, but went three decades without any punishment, according to the outlet. He denied those allegations and denied hurting his daughter.

In June, a review of the newborn's autopsy by the Milwaukee County medical examiner found that Catherine had died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head. Her death was ruled a homicide by the medical examiner.

"They are older allegations, but what I read in this complaint is that it took some time to piece together a story, if there’s maybe a better way of saying that," WITI-TV quoted Milwaukee County court commissioner Katryna Childs Rhodes as saying.

A warrant was issued for Schroeder's arrest Wednesday, according to court records in Milwaukee County. He made his initial court appearance the following day.

Schroeder's lawyers attempted to have the case dismissed, citing the statute of limitations. However, the judge handling the case shot down the attempt and set Schroeder’s bond at $350,000.

"This is not a case in which the role of DNA resurfacing at a later time," WITI-TV quoted Schroeder's defense attorney as saying. "This was a situation, I think, that all the evidence that they needed to charge Mr. Schroeder with was there."

A look at his records showed that Schroeder had a prior conviction for sexual assault and battery in Waukesha County in 2008 and was ordered to register as a sex offender for life. He assaulted his ex-girlfriend while she was unconscious and took photos of the attack.

Schroeder, who was released on extended supervision in March 2020, was also charged in Waukesha County Wednesday with the physical abuse of a 5-week-old child stemming from a 2005 incident, according to WITI-TV.

Schroeder is scheduled to make another appearance in Milwaukee County court on Sept. 2 for a preliminary hearing.