In July 1999, the lifeless body of a young woman was discovered in a cornfield in Raymond, Wisconsin. Authorities determined that she had suffered severe beatings, malnourishment, and torture before succumbing to her death. Identified as “Jane Doe,” she was laid to rest without a name for two decades as the investigation hit a standstill.
A breakthrough occurred in 2019 when advanced DNA testing identified the victim as 23-year-old Peggy Lynn Johnson-Schroeder. Prior to her tragic demise, Johnson-Schroeder had been residing with Linda LaRoche and her family in McHenry, Illinois. LaRoche, then 64, was subsequently arrested in Florida after providing conflicting statements concerning her interactions with Johnson-Schroeder.
Witness accounts, including those of LaRoche’s ex-husband and children, revealed a troubling pattern of physical abuse towards Johnson-Schroeder. LaRoche was eventually charged with first-degree intentional homicide and concealing a corpse in connection with the victim’s death.
In 2022, a Racine County jury found LaRoche guilty of Johnson-Schroeder’s murder. Despite an appeal to overturn the conviction being denied in February 2024, LaRoche continued to maintain her innocence, citing potential leads pointing to another suspect and questioning the circumstantial nature of the evidence.
Following the resolution of the case, Johnson-Schroeder’s remains were relocated nearer to her family in northern Illinois, thanks to the generous support of local donations. The Draeger-Lagendorf Funeral Home even contributed a headstone for her final resting place.
Overall, the closure brought by the identification and justice served in Johnson-Schroeder’s case marks a bittersweet but peaceful conclusion to a long-standing mystery.
In 2020, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling remarked, according to CBS 58, “I believe that the family has finally found a sense of closure now that she has been identified and laid to rest, ensuring that her final resting place will never be disturbed again.” For more details, you can view the original article on People’s website.
