Hampstead man to face murder, other charges

The trial of a Hampstead man indicted on charges of first-degree murder, first-degree arson, felony murder and first-degree malicious burning will begin today in Carroll County Circuit Court. Robert Charles Schech Sr., 70, formerly of Hampstead, is accused of intentionally setting fires in his residence on Nov. 13, 2016 in order to prevent his wife, Donna Schech, from escaping. Donna Schech died of heat and smokerelated injuries in the fire, according to the Carroll County Sheriff's Office. She was 55. Investigators allege that Robert Schech set multiple fires inside the home in the 2600 block of Hoffman Mill Road to trap Donna Schech inside. During investigation, detectives discovered that Schech called his homeowner’s insurance agency to make a claim based on the Nov. 16 fire. The insurance call, the location of the fires and Schech’s inconsistent statements led investigators to believe that Schech set the fires, according to a statement of probable cause. Schech was arrested on Dec. 16, 2016 and indicted on Jan. 5, 2017. He has been held without bond in the Carroll County Detention Center since his arrest, according to court documents. In an August 2017 hearing, Schech waived his right to a speedy trial, allowing the trial to be postponed. The trial was postponed again from a potential Jan. 29 date because an expert witness was unavailable, according to electronic court records. Prosecutors filed a notice that they intend to seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole should Schech be convicted, court records show.